Quang Ninh: Accelerates marine area allocations for aquaculture

Post-storm recovery and sustainable aquaculture development

Following Typhoon No. 3, Quang Ninh’s aquaculture sector suffered severe damage, with around 3,108 farming facilities affected, resulting in estimated losses exceeding VND 2.28 trillion. In response, the province has swiftly implemented measures to support recovery and promote a more sustainable and professional approach to aquaculture.

By 2025, Quang Ninh aims to expand its marine farming area to over 15,000 hectares, an increase of 4,800 hectares from 2024. The province is also targeting an aquaculture growth rate of more than 11.4%. To achieve these goals, local authorities have been accelerating the allocation of marine areas for aquaculture immediately after the Lunar New Year, addressing challenges, and assisting farmers in resuming production.

A representative from an oyster farming cooperative in Quang Yen Town shared that their facility was nearly wiped out by the storm, with losses exceeding VND 25 billion, affecting nearly 40 farming rafts. Determined to rebuild, the cooperative plans to invest in 20 new rafts in 2025 to restore operations.

“We applied for a 10-hectare water surface allocation and are currently waiting for approval. Before the storm, we had almost 40 rafts, but now only three remain. We are working to secure loans and mobilize resources to rebuild 20 more this year, with each raft requiring an estimated VND 300 million,” the cooperative representative said.

Progress in Aquaculture Area Allocations

In Quang Yen Town, more than 865 hectares have been designated for aquaculture, with over 360 households already registered. The town’s steering committee has assigned farming areas, providing detailed site maps and farming plans to qualified individuals and organizations.

“So far, over 70% of the damaged floating cages have been restored compared to pre-storm levels. Additionally, more than 70% of the planned aquaculture areas have been allocated to farmers. We have clearly designated specific zones for different species to ensure sustainable development. The approval process for registrations and stocking plans is expected to be completed soon,” said Nguyen Van Bac, Vice Chairman of Quang Yen Town People’s Committee.

Other districts are also making progress. In Van Don, five households have been allocated 2.6 hectares for fish farming within the 3-nautical-mile zone, while six cooperatives have received permits for marine aquaculture. Meanwhile, in Cam Pha, 324 individuals participated in a lottery for 241 mollusk farming locations, and 77 fish farming sites have been assigned.

Future Plans for Large-Scale Marine Farming

To achieve its 11.4% aquaculture growth target, Quang Ninh aims to finalize approvals for marine farming allocations by the end of Q1 2025, ensuring farmers can begin stocking on schedule. The province is also guiding applicants through the licensing process and securing designated farming areas to help stabilize production.

Additionally, to support the growth of industrial-scale marine aquaculture, Quang Ninh is reserving water surface areas within 3 to 6 nautical miles and identifying zones beyond 6 nautical miles to attract large-scale aquaculture projects.

In 2024, Quang Ninh allocated marine areas to 470 individuals under district-level authority, covering 288.9 hectares. The province also temporarily allocated 8,588.7 hectares to 1,208 individuals to aid post-storm recovery.

With these initiatives, Quang Ninh is taking decisive steps toward developing a resilient, sustainable, and industrialized marine aquaculture sector.

VFM