Marine aquaculture farmers need to adopt modern technologies and methods, according to a conference on developing the sector held in Bình Định Province. – Photo tuoitre.vn

BÌNH ĐỊNH – Virtually all of Việt Nam's marine aquaculture is done by household businesses using outdated technologies, Assoc Prof Nguyễn Hữu Dũng, chairman of the Việt Nam Seaculture Association, has said.

Speaking at a conference in Bình Định Province on February 14 he said Việt Nam's marine aquaculture is behind the times, with only around 10 companies applying industrial methods.

Trần Công Khôi, deputy head of the Directorate of Fisheries’ aquaculture department, said Việt Nam is plagued by improper planning, underdeveloped infrastructure, diseases, and natural disasters.

Only a few enterprises invest in industrial marine aquaculture models since they require a lot of resources, he said.

Dr Võ Sĩ Tuấn of the Việt Nam Science and Technology Advisory Council said traditionally marine aquaculture has been done on a small scale, does not conform to government plans and poses high pollution risks.

The solution is to change the technologies and farming methods, he said.

Trần Văn Phúc, director of the Bình Định Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the province only has 60 hectares of marine aquaculture farms using industrial methods.

It is gradually industrialising marine aquaculture by adopting technologies and farming methods that are more effective and environmentally friendly, expanding the farming area and facilitating investments in hi-tech farming, he said.

Dũng suggested that Việt Nam’s marine aquaculture methods should be modernised, and that the sector should be integrated with tourism and other industries. 

The Directorate of Fisheries is focusing on drafting policies to attract investment and helping small farming households join co-operative groups.

The conference was held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bình Định Province and Tuổi Trẻ newspaper to focus on challenges facing marine aquaculture in the country.

Lê Xuân Trung, deputy editor in chief of Tuổi Trẻ newspaper, said Việt Nam’s fisheries exports of US$11 billion last year made it one of the three countries in the world. 

“That shrimp and shark catfish, two of the largest export items in 2022, are mostly from farming shows the country’s improvement in aquaculture.” – VNS