Vietnam pushes high-tech mariculture to unlock billion-dollar potential
As part of efforts to lift the EU's "yellow card" warning and safeguard marine resources, Vietnam is accelerating its transition to offshore aquaculture with a focus on high-tech marine farming. But regulatory and legal challenges remain a key hurdle to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
Underused potential in a sea-rich nation
With a sea area exceeding 1 million square kilometers, 3,260 kilometers of coastline, and thousands of islands, Vietnam has immense potential for marine aquaculture. Yet the sector remains underdeveloped, contributing just over 20% of the country’s total aquaculture area and only 4-5% of overall production. Most operations are still small-scale, fragmented, and lack technological innovation.
In a bid to scale up, the Vietnamese Prime Minister has approved a national marine aquaculture strategy through 2030 with a vision to 2045 (Decision No. 1664/QĐ-TTg). The plan aims to modernize the sector into a large-scale, safe, and sustainable industry producing high-value branded products for both domestic and export markets.
The Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates that, with proper investment, the industry could generate USD 5-10 billion in annual revenues and create hundreds of thousands of sustainable coastal jobs.
Tech-driven growth in key provinces
Provinces like Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, and Quang Ninh are emerging as marine aquaculture hubs, thanks to favorable conditions for farming high-value species such as cobia, pompano, snapper, and lobster. Modern models are taking root, including HDPE cage systems for cobia, large-scale lobster farms replacing traditional cages, and digital platforms developed by startups like MimosaTEK, T-Fish, and eSeaGo that monitor water quality, forecast disease, and automate care.
With capture fisheries under pressure and the EU’s yellow card warning in place for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, high-tech marine aquaculture is becoming a strategic alternative. The shift is seen as essential to protecting marine ecosystems, safeguarding livelihoods, and positioning Vietnam as a leader in sustainable aquaculture.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) believes that, with timely action, Vietnam could become a regional leader in modern mariculture, balancing ecological conservation with export-driven growth.
Regulatory bottlenecks hold sector back
Despite strong government support, experts warn that fragmented policies and administrative bottlenecks are slowing the sector’s progress.
Marine aquaculture is currently regulated under multiple laws, including the Investment Law and the Land Law, without a dedicated legal framework. A specialized decree is urgently needed to provide clarity and encourage investment, experts say.
Nguyen Minh Son, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Quang Ninh Province – a national leader in marine farming, said overlapping regulations have created confusion at the local level. Under Decree 11/2021/ND-CP, for example, allocating marine areas between 3 and 6 nautical miles requires input from multiple ministries, creating delays for businesses.
Many provinces have yet to define boundaries and coordinates for marine investment zones. There are also no standardized criteria for selecting investors, further complicating implementation. Spatial planning remains weak, with aquaculture often overlapping with tourism, transport, and other industries.
Financing still a major obstacle
Limited access to credit is another major barrier. Although Decree 55/2015/ND-CP and Decree 116/2018/ND-CP outline government support policies, businesses still face complex procedures that hinder financing. High-tech marine farming, which requires large, long-term investments and carries high risk, lacks tailored credit packages and insurance coverage.
At a mid-year press conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien emphasized that without resolving legal, planning, and financing issues, Vietnam will struggle to capitalize on its marine aquaculture potential.
As Vietnam seeks to advance national goals in science, technology, and green development, fostering an investment-friendly environment is becoming increasingly urgent. Greater collaboration among central agencies, local governments, and the private sector is seen as vital to unlocking high-tech marine aquaculture as a key growth engine, contributing significantly to export revenues and a sustainable blue economy.
VFM
