Khánh Hòa: Aim to offshore aquaculture

Khánh Hòa sets a target of having 1,500 ha of marine aquaculture by 2030, producing 30,000 tons of seafood and achieving USD 1 billion in export value.

Huỳnh Kim Khánh, Director of Khánh Hòa provincial Center of Agricultural Extension, said that research institutes, universities, and businesses have been producing commercial breeding stocks, feed, and farming technologies of some species such as pomfret, cobia, red snapper, and seabass. Marine aquaculture with industrial scale has been carried out in Vân Phong bay, producing tens of thousands of tons of fish each year.

The Center applies HDPE cage farming models in small scale, with a modest investment, 2-3 workers and without operating cranes. Once 1-2 cages four years ago, more than 10 households are using HDPE. Thus, farmers are confident in shifting to offshore culture. And yet, the conversion is slow as fishermen must spend a large amount of money on HDPE to replace traditional wooden cages. However, HDPE cage is still a good choice in the long run as it is cheaper than a brand new wooden cage. Thus, farmers should be supported with credit and loan deferment to totally change to HDPE cages.

Trần Hòa Nam, Vice Chairman of Khánh Hòa provincial People’s Committee said that the province was developing the Project of hi-tech marine aquaculture with three targets: (1) rise productivity, increase the value of aquaculture industry, raise income for fishermen, improve social and economic conditions with an aim to boost exports; (2) protect the ocean environment, tend to develop the ocean economy sustainably, gradually form a marine culturing area of 3-6 nautical miles, hence assure the development of the ocean economy and reduce the pressure of coastal marine culture; (3) eliminate the strike in the development of economic sectors in marine culture areas.

Khánh Hòa sets a target of having 1,500 ha of marine culture areas by 2030, with a total of 4.0 million m3 of cages, producing 30,000 tons of seafood, achieving USD 1 billion of the export value. About 800 ha of marine culture plans to be formed within 3 nautical miles, producing 12,000 tons of seafood; and 700 ha will be within 3-6 nautical miles, producing 18,000 tons of seafood.

(Source: https://vietfishmagazine.com/)

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