After one year of pilot implementation, the high-tech open-sea aquaculture model in Cam Lap commune, Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province has proven successful.
Ten households in Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province, involved in the model organized by the Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and supported by the Vingroup’s Thien Tam Fund, utilized HDPE material cages. The model features underwater camera systems, sea positioning systems, and 24/7 remote monitoring via electronic devices. These households used HDPE plastic cages in open seas instead of traditional wooden cages in the sheltered Cam Ranh Bay.
After one year, all 10 households reported harvesting higher yields, production, and profits compared to traditional wooden cage farming in sheltered waters. The profit rate for cobia farming reached 172%, and for lobster, 112%, compared to traditional wooden cages in enclosed bays.
Nguyen Van Cu from Ba Ngoi ward, Cam Ranh City, shared, “The HDPE cages help fish grow quickly and meet standards. Previously, it took 10-12 months to raise them, but now it’s reduced to 7-8 months. The mortality and loss rate is below 20%.”
Currently, aquaculture in Cam Ranh Bay has expanded rapidly with over 100,000 cages operated by 2,000 households, covering more than 500 hectares of water surface. Dense cages have caused visual pollution, environmental degradation, and disrupted maritime routes. The successful pilot of farming fish and shrimp in open seas provides a crucial basis for changing production methods in marine farming, aligning with environmental protection. It reduces risks from natural disasters and diseases, improves the landscape, and integrates with eco-tourism development. New HDPE material cages also allow farmers to adopt modern farming technologies, offering security against natural disasters. However, the high cost of cages and equipment currently poses a challenge for farmers.
Khanh Hoa Province is calling on scientists and businesses to invest in building advanced technology-based marine farming models, developing auxiliary equipment technology for marine farming, and processing seafood. The Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee has tasked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to propose support policies for fishermen to transition from traditional materials to new HDPE cages.
Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that Khanh Hoa needs to continue studying and expanding this model and regularly monitor the environment to facilitate the growth of farmed species while ensuring environmental protection.
“Khanh Hoa has taken the lead in creating cages comparable to those in Norway and summarized the effectiveness of farming cobia, snapper, lobster, mollusks, achieving very high efficiency. This model will be expanded to 27 other coastal provinces, thereby leveraging the advantages of marine farming, contributing to marine economic development, and reducing fishing pressure to lift the yellow card at the earliest,” said Deputy Minister Tien.
VFM
