National program on aquaculture development in a period of 2021 - 2030
I. Objectives
1. Common objectives
Developing effective and sustainable aquaculture, proactively adapting to climate change; improve productivity, quality, value and competitiveness of aquaculture products; meet requirements of domestic and export markets. By 2030, aquaculture production will reach 7.0 million tons/year, contributing to job creation and income improvement for workers.
2. Specific objectives
a) Period of 2021 - 2025
- By 2025, total aquaculture production will reach 5.6 million tons/year, the export value will reach 7.8 billion USD/year, growth rate of aquaculture value will reach an average of 4 million tons/year.
- Proactively produce and supply over 50% of demand for broodstock black tiger shrimp and over 25% of the broodstock vannamei demand, over 70% of the broodstock demand for selective breeding; proactively produce and supply enough breeds of aquatic species with high economic value and large volumes of commodity products.
- Invest in and upgrade essential infrastructure to meet production requirements for more than 30 concentrated aquaculture areas and concentrated seed production areas.
- Building a chain of production, processing and consumption, ensuring stable output for over 30% of aquaculture product output.
b) Period of 2026 - 2030
- By 2030, total aquaculture production will reach 7.0 million tons/year, export value will reach 12 billion USD/year, growth rate of aquaculture value will reach an average of over 4 million tons/year.
- Proactively produce and supply over 60% of demand for black tiger shrimp, white leg shrimp broodstock and 100% selected broodstock; improve quality of seed of aquatic species with high economic value and large volume of commodity products.
- Invest in and upgrade essential infrastructure to meet production requirements for more than 50 concentrated aquaculture areas and concentrated seed production areas.
- Building a chain of production, processing and consumption, ensuring stable output for over 50% of aquaculture product output.
II. Content
1. Development of aquatic seed production
a) Improve production capacity of aquatic breeds
- Attracting all economic sectors to invest in research, production and development of aquatic breeds, meeting practical production needs.
- Encourage organizations, enterprises and individuals to develop and apply a system of quality control and biosecurity and quality standards in production and rearing of aquatic breeds.
- Develop and finalize standards and test methods to control, evaluate, assess and verify quality of aquatic breeds.
b) Develop production of aquatic breeds by species group
- For brackish water shrimp: Continue domestication programs for black tiger shrimp, choose to create vannamei shrimp to actively produce domestically. Shrimp seed is quality controlled before and during circulation in the market, does not carry dangerous pathogens according to regulations.
- For pangasius: Continue to implement breeding programs in direction of improving quality, meeting market requirements, adapting to climate change and being resistant to some common dangerous diseases. Pangasius breeds are quality controlled before and during circulation on the market, do not carry dangerous pathogens according to regulations.
- For aquatic species that have actively produced artificial seed: Applying new technical solutions, transferring new technologies in nursing production, selecting and creating breeds (new varieties, single-sex, hybrids, polymorphisms) multiples...) to improve the quality of seed.
- For aquatic species that have not yet actively produced artificial breeds: Strictly control quantity and quality of breeds from imported and natural sources. Actively research, receive and apply technology in seed production and nursing.
- For microalgae, seaweed, ornamental aquatic species, aquatic species for entertainment, fine arts, jewelry and pharmaceuticals: To research and import seed production technology suitable for production needs and practical conditions.
2. Aquaculture development
a) Developing culture by species group
- For brackish water shrimp:
+ Apply new and advanced techniques to production to save water, fuel, be environmentally friendly, towards no use of antibiotics in production, create products of high quality and value, meet the market requirements; certified farming; farming in direction of minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing use of plastic materials that are harmful to the ecological environment and reducing environmental pollution.
+ Diversify farming methods according to regional conditions and adapt to impacts of climate change. To develop shrimp farming in areas affected by salinity, areas converted from low-efficiency agricultural production in accordance with natural conditions and local land use plan and other plans.
+ Prioritize development of temperature controlled farming methods in winter for coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Thua Thien Hue.
+ Prioritize development of forms of black tiger shrimp farming in mangroves, organic farming, shrimp-rice farming; continue to develop whiteleg shrimp farming in areas with suitable natural conditions, meet market demand and in accordance with local planning for the southwestern coastal provinces.
- For pangasius:
+ Continue to develop pangasius farming in the Mekong Delta and areas with suitable natural conditions, ensuring that according to the local plans and land use plan.
+ Implement strict control of farming conditions in accordance with current regulations, encourage expansion of farming areas according to standards to create high quality products, ensure food safety and meet consumption demand.
+ Encourage application of new farming technologies, saving water, adapting to climate change and wastewater and sludge treatment technologies to protect the environment.
- For tilapia:
Continue to develop concentrated farming areas in freshwater, brackish and saltwater ponds; cage farming on rivers and reservoirs. Applying new technology to production, creating volume of products on a commodity scale for export processing.
- For marine fish, lobster, molluscs:
+ Implement contents on development of marine fish, lobster and mollusc farming as prescribed in Decision No. 1664/QD-TTg dated October 4, 2021 of the Prime Minister on approval of aquaculture development project aquaculture by 2030, vision to 2045.
+ Strictly manage and control conditions of farming establishments according to regulations; Review and arrange cage density to ensure technical requirements and environmental capacity for lobster farming. Applying and testing lobster farming models in cages in offshore areas, on shore (raised in tanks using circulating filtration systems).
+ To develop concentrated mollusk farming areas to meet technical requirements and standards of markets; strictly control on quality, food safety, disease safety.
- For cold water fish:
+ Continue to expand scale of cold water fish farming in potential and suitable areas in the Northwest, Central Highlands and some other localities with suitable water sources.
+ Applying new technology to production to save water, protect the environment, create large output, high quality for domestic and export markets.
+ Diversify products from cold water fish (caviar, smoked fish...) to improve product value.
- For microalgae, seaweed, aquatic species raised as ornamental, recreational, fine arts, jewelry and pharmaceuticals:
+ Applying new technologies to develop farming of valuable seaweed species in suitable ecological zones, creating a large volume of products, meeting the requirements of quality, food safety and market, contributing to increase carbon credits.
+ Organize and rearrange existing aquaculture areas and develop aquaculture areas used for ornamental purposes, entertainment, fine arts, jewelry and pharmaceuticals, in association with building service supply systems, materials, techniques and consumption. Invest in new science and technology to promote the production of ornamental aquatic products on a commercial scale.
- For crustaceans (except brackish water shrimp and lobster):
+ To develop models of specialized freshwater prawn farming, intercropping, rotation (combined farming of shrimp - rice, giant freshwater shrimp in garden ditches and polyculture of giant freshwater prawn with other farmed aquatic species). Forming concentrated farming areas in localities with suitable conditions, exploiting land and water surface areas affected by climate change and saltwater intrusion into giant freshwater prawn farming to increase production and prices, treatment and efficiency.
+ Develop models of intensive farming and combination farming for other crustaceans according to suitable ecological regions. Apply science and technology to production to improve productivity, quality and value of products.
- For traditional, indigenous and aquatic species:
+ To reorganize areas for raising indigenous and specialty aquatic products, to apply new technologies to production, to meet the conditions of food safety and disease safety.
+ Exploiting potential of water surface of rivers, streams, reservoirs, water bodies and irrigation to develop aquaculture, provide food, create livelihoods, contribute to poverty reduction and increase income for people. .
b) Quality control, food safety and traceability in aquaculture
- Propagating and disseminating provisions of law and requirements of import market on food quality and safety in the stages of production, harvesting and transportation of aquatic products.
- To build and develop farming areas to ensure food safety, to monitor residues of chemicals, drugs and antibiotics; develop and apply a product traceability system in accordance with law and market requirements.
- Inspect and supervise compliance with regulations and handle violations in the field of quality, food safety, traceability of aquatic products.
- Completing system of legal documents regulating food quality and safety, assessing conformity and handling violations in field of food safety.
c) Disease safety control and environmental monitoring in aquaculture
- To build and develop disease-free aquaculture facilities and aquaculture areas, in which priority is given to the main aquaculture species and those with high commodity value.
- Develop standards and regulations on quality of aquaculture water and wastewater from aquaculture areas.
- Encourage organizations and individuals to invest in environmental monitoring and warning in concentrated aquaculture and seed production areas; applying new technology on a digital basis to assess impact of climate change, salinity intrusion and timely information of monitoring results so that producers can be proactive and handle environmental incidents and epidemics.
3. Invest in upgrading aquaculture infrastructure
- Continue to invest, upgrade and complete essential infrastructure in a number of concentrated seed production areas and concentrated aquaculture areas for efficient and sustainable production; give priority to investment in key aquaculture areas, aquaculture with a large volume of commodity products as a basis for spreading and developing farming areas to ensure food safety, disease safety, limit environmental pollution, meet the requirements of the consumer market.
- Invest in upgrading and completing infrastructure in service of training, training, research, breeding stock, application and technology transfer in production, rearing and aquaculture.
- Invest in building a number of trading, service and trading centers for aquatic materials, equipment and products, especially in border provinces and key aquaculture areas.
4. Developing the system of production, supply of materials and aquaculture supporting industry
- Develop production of aqua feed suitable for each cultured object, form and conditions in direction of reducing dependence on fishmeal; increase the rate of using domestic raw materials to reduce product costs, reduce dependence on imported raw materials and protect the environment.
- Development and production of products for environmental treatment of aquaculture derived from environmentally friendly materials, suitable for each form and subject of farming.
- Develop production of aquatic veterinary medicine products derived from environmentally friendly materials, gradually replacing antibiotics used in aquaculture.
- Develop production and use of new materials, machinery and equipment in direction of safety, fuel saving and environmental protection in aquaculture.
- Develop and finalize standards and test methods to control, evaluate, assess and verify the quality of aquatic materials.
- Encourage all economic sectors to invest in technology transfer, build facilities for production of materials and equipment, and provide domestic services to actively produce and reduce costs and improve competitiveness in aquaculture.
5. Improve quality of human resources and production organization
a) Improve the quality of human resources
- Develop human resources for management, research and technical guidance according to contents of Scheme on training and development of human resources in fisheries and project on capacity building for state management of fisheries.
- Reviewing and perfecting human resource training system for development of fisheries sector. Organize training, training on production, new technologies, markets, workers' rights, relevant legal regulations for workforce involved in seafood production and trade chain.
- Organize and train a team of staff with knowledge on international trade integration of seafood industry, trade barriers, technical barriers related to aquaculture products.
- Orientation, training, application of digital technology in production, supply, distribution, forecasting (price, seasonality,...), access to new scientific and technical data, market search and promote products for each organization or individual engaged in aquaculture; promote development of e-commerce in production and consumption of aquaculture products.
- Encourage businesses, organizations and individuals to participate in and invest in training and training the workforce for aquaculture.
b) Developing models of cooperation and association in production and consumption of products
- Continue to develop and expand cooperative groups, cooperatives, co-management groups, joint ventures and linkages between organizations and individuals in form of cooperation associated with new rural construction program; develop linkage chains in production and consumption of aquatic products.
- To build and develop aquaculture models combined with other economic activities such as eco-tourism, cuisine, entertainment, wind power, solar energy, circular economy models, etc, to create added value.
- Develop and implement communication programs, support registration of intellectual property rights protection for a number of products (geographical indications, certification marks, collective marks...) develop a brand name for seafood product lines with regional and local characteristics.
6. Research and application of technology in aquaculture
a) Regarding technology application research
- Artificial production, selection and creation of new aquatic breeds with potential for development; off-season varieties, varieties with high adaptability to environmental conditions, fast growth, disease resistance, disease-free; varieties of microalgae, seaweed, aquatic species used for ornamental purposes, fine arts, pharmaceuticals and other purposes.
- Develop suitable, environmentally friendly farming technology, save water, fuel, raw materials, reduce dependence on natural resources; limit use of drugs and chemicals that have the potential to affect the environment and food safety.
- Develop technical solutions and new technologies in management, collection and treatment of waste, wastewater from aquaculture, by-products from aquaculture and seafood processing to increase value, reduce impact on the environment.
- Research and develop disease prevention and treatment measures (vaccine technology, enzyme technology...) on farmed aquatic products.
- Completing system of national standards and national technical regulations; prioritizing harmonization with international and regional standards; to socialize and improve capacity of system of conformity assessment organizations in the aquaculture sector.
b) Regarding technology application in aquaculture
- Apply technological solutions to improve productivity and quality of aquatic products.
- Accelerating transition to application of automation technology at stages related to occupational safety and requiring quick handling of situations such as harvesting, product preservation, monitoring, environmental warning, origin.
- Applying geographic information system (GIS), technology 4.0, blockchain technology in production, farming area management and traceability, ensuring connection with traceability portal national products.
III. Fund for implementation
1. Capital for implementation
Diversify mobilized capital sources and effectively use resources to implement the Program.
- Annual state budget (expenditure for development investment, infrastructure investment, recurrent expenditure) according to current state budget decentralization.
- Fund to be integrated in public investment programs, schemes and projects in the 2021 - 2030 period.
- Fund for mobilization and mobilization from foreign donors, international organizations, domestic and foreign enterprises, organizations and individuals and other lawful funds.
2. Mechanism of using investment capital
- Central budget prioritizes investment in building essential infrastructure for large-scale concentrated aquaculture areas and concentrated aquatic seed production areas for key aquaculture species, aquaculture species with high economic value and priority projects in Appendix I and II issued together with this program.
- Local budgets give priority to investment in building and upgrading infrastructure of concentrated seed production areas and concentrated aquaculture areas for potential aquaculture species according to local needs; participate in the implementation of projects invested by the central budget; encouraging localities to use their own budget and other lawful capital sources to invest in infrastructure prioritized by the central government.
- Sources of ODA and FDI capital to invest in building and upgrading aquaculture infrastructure to meet the requirements of environmental protection, production safety and food safety.
- Capital sources of all economic sectors and capital mobilized for investment in construction of production, business and logistics services according to current regulations.
IV. Implementation organization
1. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
a) To be responsible for coordinating and organizing the implementation of the Program nationwide; arrange regular funding for activities of inspection, monitoring, evaluation, organizing seminars/conferences to implement, preliminary and finalize implementation of the Program.
b) Promulgate a set of criteria for determining concentrated aquaculture areas and concentrated aquatic seed production areas prioritized for investment by the central and local budgets in accordance with the development situation in each period and each period; The set of criteria to determine priority aquaculture development projects for implementation.
c) Formulate and synthesize funds in assigned annual state budget estimates, and send them to the Ministry of Finance for submission to competent authorities in accordance with the law on state budget.
d) Summarize, appraise and approve investment projects on construction of aquaculture infrastructure according to the provisions of the Law on Public Investment; synthesize, appraise and approve priority aquaculture development projects for the period 2021 - 2030.
d) Review and propose development of mechanisms and policies to encourage and attract all economic sectors to invest in all stages in the entire value chain of aquaculture products.
e) Guide and urge ministries, branches and localities to organize the implementation of the Program; organizing inspection, monitoring, evaluation, implementation seminars/conferences, preliminary and final reviews; report to the Prime Minister results of implementation every year, every 5 years and summarize the Program, promptly propose, propose, and submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision issues arising, beyond his/her authority; supplement and adjust the Program's contents and priority projects to suit practical conditions.
2. Ministry of Planning and Investment
a) Assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries and branches in, balancing and allocating investment capital sources for the development of projects under the Program in accordance with law on public investment and other provisions of the law.
b) To assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries and branches in, proposing solutions and mobilizing investment resources to implement the program.
3. Ministry of Finance
Based on balancing capacity of the central budget, on basis of proposal of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries and branches, to summarize in the annual recurrent expenditure estimates of the central budget, submit competent authorities shall balance and allocate funds according to the provisions of the Law on State Budget and guiding documents for the implementation of the Program.
4. Ministry of Science and Technology
a) To assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries and branches in, formulating and publicizing national standards, prioritizing harmonization with international and regional standards; appraise national technical regulations; perfecting the system of legal documents on standards, technical regulations, product and goods quality and conformity assessment activities; apply traceability; support protection of intellectual property rights; prioritize funding for implementation of contents related to research, application and development of science and technology for aquaculture development.
b) Assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries and branches in, integrating contents and tasks of development and application of science and technology in the field of aquaculture in the following areas: approved priority programs in the field of science and technology.
5. Ministry of Industry and Trade
a) Assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in researching and implementing appropriate policies and solutions to develop markets and solve trade barriers for aquatic products.
b) Assume prime responsibility for, and coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in assessing the current status of the power supply system and allocating resources and investing in infrastructure to provide sufficient electricity for concentrated aquaculture areas, hi-tech farming.
c) Coordinating with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in researching and timely providing information on the requirements, needs and consumer tastes of aquaculture products of potential markets in order to develop a decision on the quality of aquaculture products towards the production, farming, processing and export of aquaculture products.
6. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
a) Assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in, researching, proposing mechanisms, policies, and regulations on water resource management, land and water surface allocation for aquaculture in accordance with practice and the provisions of law.
b) Assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in, promptly providing results of periodical water environment monitoring at monitoring points serving aquaculture to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, develop rural areas and localities to give early warning to farmers and limit risks.
c) Assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in, proactively formulating and proposing plans to respond to climate change and environmental pollution that may affect development of aquaculture industry.
7. State Bank of Vietnam
To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and branches in, studying and proposing preferential policies on credit loans, interest rates, and loan terms for organizations and individuals involved in investment and production in the field of investment. The aquaculture sector meets the criteria prescribed by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
8. People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities
a) Based on the actual conditions, the implementation plan of the local fisheries development strategy for the period 2021 - 2030 and the content of this Program, direct the organization to develop, approve and implement action plan program implementation.
b) Allocate annual funding from the local budget and mobilize other lawful capital sources in accordance with regulations to implement the Program's contents in the locality. Priority shall be given to allocating funds managed by the locality to implement investment projects on infrastructure construction in the concentrated aquaculture area in the locality.
c) Cooperate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the process of the Central Government's investment in construction of aquaculture infrastructure, ensuring consistency and synchronization with the socio-economic development plan of the province.
d) Arrange land use according to planning, balance and allocate funds for investment in projects invested, managed and maintained by the Central Government after investment.
Organizing reception for projects invested by the Central Government; manage and exploit aquaculture infrastructure after investment in accordance with regulations on management and use of public assets.
e) Organize a preliminary assessment of results of implementation of the Program every year, every 5 years, summarize the Program and report to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development before December 20 of each year.
9. Associations, Professional Associations
a) Cooperate with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in propagating, disseminating and guiding members of associations and associations on regulations related to aquaculture of Vietnam and the importing country.
b) Promote export activities, trade promotion, and market development.
c) Support in analyzing, forecasting, providing market information for organizations and individuals raising, processing and exporting aquatic products.
d) Participating in branding of aquaculture products, trade promotion activities, handling of trade disputes, technical barriers related to aquaculture, processing and export of aquatic products, expanding markets consumer market; share market information; participate in technical training, technology transfer; supporting organizations and individuals to invest in development, organize aquaculture according to the value chain, responsibly, with quality, efficiency and sustainability.
10. Relevant organizations and individuals
a) Strictly comply with the provisions of law in the field of aquaculture.
b) Participating in the implementation of infrastructure investment projects for aquaculture development, projects related to research, science and technology transfer, environmental monitoring, seed production, certification and other activities production and business activities under this Program.

Source: Vitic/ thuvienphapluat.vn