With over 3,260 kilometers of coastline and an exclusive economic zone of more than 1 million square kilometers, including coastal and offshore waters, Vietnam is well-positioned to expand its marine aquaculture sector. In recent years, industrial marine farming has become a strategic solution for sustainable economic growth in marine economies, easing the pressure on natural resource extraction and increasing income for fishermen. However, challenges remain, such as technical constraints, limited financing, and market fluctuations.
The training, organizing from November 12 to November 15, is led by experienced experts from the National agricultural promotion Center, the Quality control and Verification Center, Nha Trang University, and Can Tho University. Nearly 200 participants, including members of 18 cooperatives, fishermen, and agricultural promotion officials from eight central and south-central provinces, including Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen, attended this program, marking the sixth training session held to date.
The training curriculum covers diverse topics, ranging from effective agricultural cooperative management, production planning, to breakthrough business strategies. Notably, the program introduces circular economy principles applied to value chains and high-value-added seafood processing. A major focus is industrial marine farming, emphasizing techniques for breeding and cultivating commercial marine fish. These techniques aim to help communities implement efficient, sustainable farming models that meet high technical standards. Participants will also have the opportunity for hands-on training and field visits to apply these techniques effectively in real-world production.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Fisheries Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), emphasized Vietnam's potential in marine aquaculture while highlighting the challenges the industry faces. Mr. Luan stressed the need for cooperatives and fishermen to be well-equipped with knowledge, noting Vietnam's significant potential for industrial marine farming. He stated that realizing this potential requires investment in capacity building for local communities, technology transfer, and effective management models. This approach not only reduces the pressure on coastal fisheries but also advances the development of structured, sustainable marine farming.
“With the dedicated support of the Thien Tam Fund, Nha Trang University, Can Tho University, managers, agricultural promotion officers, and marine farmers participating in this session, we urge you to make the most of this time to exchange, share, and deepen your knowledge, enabling cooperative production along the value chain,” Mr. Tran Dinh Luan remarked.
Supporting sustainable development with thien tam fund’s assistance
Since 2022, the "Cooperative partnerships with farmers for economic development and sustainable poverty alleviation" project, initiated by the Thien Tam Fund, has launched with three pilot models in two initial provinces, Thai Nguyen and Son La, expanding to 89 models across 40 provinces nationwide by 2023 and 2024.
In Khanh Hoa Province, Thien Tam Fund has provided extensive support for agriculture, funding a pilot high-tech marine farming project and supporting fishermen in setting up high-tech HDPE cages in open-sea areas of Cam Ranh.
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Photo 2: Director Tran Dinh Luan presenting Thien Tam Fund sponsorship gifts to cooperatives
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Following two years of field implementation, in 2024, Thien Tam Fund collaborated with leading agricultural institutions to officially offer short-term training programs for cooperative leaders, fishermen, and agricultural officers.
This current training session, held within the partnership framework involving Nha Trang University, Can Tho University, the Central rural Coordination Office, the National agricultural promotion Center, the Fisheries Department, and the Thien Tam Fund (Vingroup), provided symbolic financial support to participating cooperatives. Each of the 12 cooperatives received grants of VND 1 billion to advance high-tech marine farming models.
Mr. Ly Minh Tuan, Director of Thien Tam Fund, discussed the organization’s role in supporting sustainable community development, poverty alleviation, and cooperative growth. With Thien Tam Fund’s partnership, cooperatives gain financial resources and the chance to build capacity, accessing advanced technologies and techniques.
Director of Fisheries Department Mr. Tran Dinh Luan acknowledged that a model of close cooperation between cooperatives and farmers is an effective solution for the sustainable development of marine farming. He encouraged cooperatives and fishermen to invest boldly and adopt new technical processes to enhance product value.
Additionally, Mr. Luan emphasized that establishing community-based marine farming organizations is a key condition for cohesive management and development, encompassing the entire process from breeding selection, care, to harvest and product distribution. He affirmed that only through coordinated involvement of organizations, individuals, and businesses can Vietnam's industrial marine farming sector achieve sustainable growth.
The “Industrial marine farming and capacity building” training program serves as an opportunity for officials and fishermen to enhance their knowledge, laying a solid foundation for Vietnam's marine farming industry. With the support of entities like Thien Tam Fund and reputable educational institutions such as Nha Trang University, the training program is expected to open up new opportunities for the development and application of high-tech marine farming methods across central coastal provinces.
Hai Dang