Decision No. 1434/QD-TTg dated September 22, 2017 of the Prime Minister on approving the Target Program on sustainable aquaculture development during 2016-2020

DECISION

Approving the Target Program on sustainable aquaculture development during 2016-2020[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the June 18, 2014 Law on Public Investment;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 73/NQ-CP of August 26, 2016, approving investment policies for the target programs during 2016-2020;

At the proposal of the Minister of Planning and Investment and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

DECIDES:

Article 1.To approve the Target Program on sustainable aquaculture development during 2016-2020 (below referred to as the Program), with the following principal contents:

I. OBJECTIVES

1. Overall objective:

To tap the potential and advantages for sustainable development of fisheries in order to develop it into a large commodity production industry with a rational structure and rational forms of production organization, high productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness, to steadily integrate into the international economy in association with protecting resources and the eco-environment, gradually increasing fishermen’s income and living standards and contributing to safeguarding national defense and security in the maritime zones and on islands of Vietnam.

2. Specific objectives to 2020:

- The fisheries production value will grow at an average annual rate of 6%.

- The total fisheries output will reach 6.5-7 million tons.

- The seafood export value will reach USD 8-9 billion.

- 100% of breeds of major farmed aquatic species will be domestically produced; 100% of breeds of tiger prawn, white-legged shrimp andtracatfish will be disease-free.

- 100% of consolidated areas under intensive farming of major species will achieve VietGAP standards or equivalent standards (GlobalGAP, ASC. BAP).

- The throughput capacity of fishing ports will increase by about 350,000 tons per year, and the mooring capacity will increase by about 15,000 vessels.

- Offshore fishing vessels will be provided with fishing ground forecasts.

- Law enforcement operations of the fisheries resource surveillance force will be ensured.

II. SUBJECTS, SCOPE OF AND TIME FOR IMPLEMENTATION

1. Subjects:

Subjects of the Program are defined at Point b, Clause 3, Section VI of the Regulation on principles, criteria and norms for allocation of development investment funds from the state budget during 2016-2020, which is promulgated together with the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 40/2015/QD-TTg of September 14, 2015, and other legal documents promulgated by the Government or Prime Minister, including: Decision No.2194/QD-TTgof December 25, 2009; Decision No. 332/QD-TTg of March 3, 2011; Decision No.1976/QD-TTg November 12, 2015; Decision No.1479/QD-TTg of October 13, 2008; Decision. 742/QD-TTg of May 26, 2010; Decree No.  75/2011/ND-CP of August 30, 2011; Decree No. 102/2012/ND-CP of November 29, 2012; Decree No. 67/2014/ND-CP of July 7, 2014; and Decree No. 210/2013/ND-CP of December 19, 2013; and other subjects decided by the Prime Minister or defined in the Agreements signed by the Vietnamese Government and donors.

2. Scope of the Program:

Ministries, central sectors and provinces and centrally run cities having projects eligible for investment from the Program, with priority given to localities meeting with difficulties in balancing their budgets.

3. The implementation period of the Program: 2016-2020.

III. TASKS OF THE PROGRAM

1. Development investment in aquaculture:

Contents and tasks of development investment in aquaculture and aquatic breeds must comply with the Government’s Decree No. 67/2014/ND-CP of July 7, 2014, on a number of fisheries development policies, the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 332/QD-TTg of March 3, 2011, approving the Scheme on development of aquaculture through 2020, and Decision No. 2194/QD-TTg of December 25, 2009, approving the Scheme on development of agricultural plant and forest tree varieties, livestock breeds and aquatic breeds up to 2020:

- To build research capacity and gradually industrialize and modernize systems of production of aquatic breeds for commercial purpose and breeds of major species (tiger prawn, white-legged shrimp,tracatfish, tilapia and clam): Building infrastructure for research facilities, consolidated aquaculture areas and development of high-quality and disease-resistant shrimp brood stock,tracatfish and tilapia;

- To expand the application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to Mekong river delta region, Red delta region and central coastal areas under intensive farming of major species (tracatfish, brackish water shrimp, mollusks and tilapia), where synchronous infrastructure works are available, so that 100% of aquaculture establishments and areas will attain advanced food quality, hygiene and safety standards;

- To invest in infrastructure in marine farming areas suitable to environmental and socio-economic conditions of coastal areas and islands (for farming lobster, marine fishes and bivalve mollusks);

- To increase the effectiveness of disease control and prevention: Investing in the environmental monitoring and aquatic animal disease warning system (3 centers in 3 regions);

- To control quality and ensure reasonable use of feeds, bio-preparations and chemical drugs for aquaculture: Constructing aquaculture supplies and aquatic breed inspection, testing and assay centers to meet practical requirements, which must ensure the general requirements on capacity of regulation- and standard-conformable testing laboratories to serve the management of aquaculture supplies and breeds.

2. Investment in marine fishing:

Contents and tasks of investment in marine fishing must comply with the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1976/QD-TTg of November 12, 2015, approving the master plan on the system of fishing ports and storm-sheltering zones for fishing vessels through 2020, with orientations toward 2030; Decision No. 1445/QD-TTg of August 16, 2013, approving the master plan on fisheries development through 2020; and Decision No. 375/QD-TTg of March 1, 2013, approving the Scheme on reorganization of marine fishing.

3. Protection and development of aquatic resources:

- To invest in equipment, conduct surveys and assessments of aquatic resources and issue reliable forecasts about fishing grounds to serve fishermen’s marine fishing under the Government’s Decree No. 27/2005/ ND-CP of August 8, 2005;

- To draw up detailed master plans on, establish and put into operation a number of reserves already approved in the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1479/QD-TTg of October 13, 2008, and Decision No. 742/QD-TTg of May 26, 2010 (45 inland water conservation zones and 16 marine reserves) so as to call for investment capital;

- To invest in physical facilities and equipment for the fisheries resource surveillance force under the Scheme on strengthening the capacity of the fisheries resource surveillance force approved in the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2075/QD-TTg of November 17, 2014.

4. Development of fisheries processing and trade:

- To develop the processing of value-added products from major species,  farmed and fished, which account for high proportions in Vietnam;

- To build and develop a number of strong brand names, first of all for shrimp,tracatfish, mollusks, tilapia and ocean tuna; to improve food quality and safety and environmental protection; concurrently to restore and develop traditional seafood processing villages.

- To control and manage the quality of processed aquatic products meeting the requirements of domestic and foreign markets;

- To develop markets and remove trade barriers.

IV. TOTAL FUND FOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

The total fund for the Program implementation is VND 49,248 billion, including:

1. Development investment fund from the central budget: VND 4,300 billion.

2. ODA loans: VND 1,600 billion.

3. Other lawful sources: VND 43,348 billion.

V. INVESTMENT MECHANISMS AND POLICIES FOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

- The central budget’s development investment fund shall be used in accordance with the Law on Public Investment, the Construction Law, the Bidding Law, the Government’s Decree No. 136/2015/ND-CP of December 31, 2015, guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Public Investment; Decree No. 77/2015/ND-CP of September 10, 2015, on medium-term and annual public investment plans; the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 40/2015/QD-TTg of September 14, 2015, setting  principles, criteria and norms for allocating the state budget’s development investment capital in the 2016-2020 period; the Government’s Decree No. 67/2014/ND-CP of July 7, 2014, on a number of fisheries development policies; and Decree No. 210/2013/ND-CP of December 19, 2013, on incentive policies for enterprises investing in agriculture and rural areas, specifically:

+ The order of elaboration, appraisal of and decision on investment policy and decision on investment in the projects of the Program must comply with the Law on Public Investment and the Government’s Decree No. 136/2015/ND-CP of December 31, 2015.

+ The method of elaboration, appraisal, approval and assignment of medium-term and annual investment plans for the projects of the Program must comply with the Government’s Decree No. 77/2015/ND-CP of September 10, 2015, on medium-term and annual public investment plans.

+ The management of construction investment projects must comply with the Construction Law, the Bidding Law; the Government’s Decree No. 37/2015/ND-CP of April 22, 2015, prescribing in detail construction contracts; Decree No. 46/2015/ND-CP on quality management and maintenance of construction works; Decree No. 59/2015/ND-CP of 18 June, 2015, on management of construction investment projects; Decree No. 63/2014/ND-CP of June 26, 2014, detailing a number of articles of the Bidding Law regarding contractor selection; and Decree No. 30/2015/ND-CP of March 17, 2015, detailing a number of articles of the Bidding Law regarding investor selection.

+ The investment monitoring and evaluation must comply with the Government’s Decree No. 84/2015/ND-CP of September 30, 2015, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Circular No. 22/2015/TT-BKHDT of December 18, 2015.

- The management of ODA projects must comply with the Government’s Decree No. 16/2016/ND-CP of March 16, 2016, on management and use of official development assistance and concessional loans of foreign donors.

- The management of investment projects in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) must comply with the Government’s Decree No. 15/2015/ND-CP of February 14, 2015, on investment in the form of public-private partnership.

- Investment credit and commercial loans must comply with the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 332/QD-TTg of March 3, 2011, approving the Scheme on development of aquaculture through 2020. The limit of investment credit must comply with the Government’s Decree No. 75/2011/ND-CP of August 30, 2011, on state investment credit and export credit.

- Non-business funds must comply with the Law on the State Budget and relevant guiding documents.

VI. MAJOR SOLUTIONS

1. To review the master plans and investment projects of the Program:

- Reviewing the master plans against current regulations to meet the development requirements of the sector and respond to such challenges as drought, extreme saltwater intrusion and marine environmental pollution, ensuring synchronism right from master plans on investment in infrastructure for production development;

- Reviewing fisheries development investment projects to ensure no overlapping and remove ineffective projects which are not in line with the restructuring orientation toward higher added value and sustainable development stated in the Scheme on restructuring of the agricultural sector approved in the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 899/QD-TTg of June 10, 2013.

2. Science and technology:

- To formulate regulations, technical standards and economic-technical norms for application in the construction, maintenance and management of fishing ports and storm-sheltering zones for fishing vessels, hi-tech aquaculture and aquatic breed production areas where bio-safety is ensured;  and environmental monitoring and aquatic animal disease warning centers. To encourage application of scientific and technical advances to fisheries infrastructure investment;

- To apply advanced construction techniques to reduce costs and shorten construction time for breakwater works, embankments, piers, etc.;

- To study and apply preservation technologies and equipment on fishing vessels which are suitable to each fishing trade and fish so as to increase the quality of products and effectiveness of fishing;

- To study models of marine fishing combined with marine services in relation to investment in infrastructure works at fishing ports so as to reduce production costs and increase the quality of products;

- To apply information technology, remote sensing technology and satellites in the management of investment, aquaculture and marine fishing;

- To study technologies and standards for production of fast-growing and disease-free breeds of major marine species;

- To study and formulate technological processes and standards for bio-safe aquaculture and water-saving, clean, environmentally friendly technologies to discharge less waste and respond to climate change and sea level rise.

3. Expansion of international cooperation:

- To formulate programs and projects to attract foreign investment (ODA, FDI); to actively participate in multilateral and bilateral activities to attract funding sources from other countries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations. Projects may be financed in various forms, such as making contributions to the Fisheries Resources Rehabilitation and Protection Fund and giving aid, etc. In addition to continuing to negotiate with the World Bank on support for the fisheries industry, to promote investment from donors which previously supported the development of fisheries such as ADB and JICA. Support may be provided in various fields: technical assistance, construction of facilities with loans and non-refundable aid, institutional capacity building, project-based support;

- To take the initiative in preparing and participating in the negotiation and delimitation of maritime zones, territorial seas and exclusive economic zones and fishing cooperation with regional countries. To cooperate in sharing information and using infrastructure with other regional countries to assist Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen operating securely in the maritime zones (including cooperation in lawful fishing in the exclusive economic zones of other countries and territories);

- To expand international cooperation on aquatic product trade through negotiation and signing of bilateral and multilateral commitments to implement relevant cooperation treaties and agreements, and removal of barriers and difficulties in aquatic product import and export.

4. Organization of production:

- To reorganize aquaculture and aquatic product production in the direction of linking all stages of the value chain, developing the model consisting of farmers, food, drug and bio-preparation suppliers and product processing and selling enterprises;

- To reorganize small-scale aquaculture and aquatic product production households into cooperative groups, community organizations or cooperatives in order to intensify mutual assistance in production, service provision and product sale;

- To reorganize the management of fishing vessels, fishing effort and fishing trades, fishing seasons and fishing grounds in conformity with the exploitable quantities of aquatic resources in each maritime zone. To assign local administrations to manage fishing vessels operating in coastal areas in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of management work close to reality, significantly reduce the fishing effort and maintain, restore and develop coastal aquatic resources;

- To develop community-based management models for each coastal area or exploited object; to develop job-changing models to create livelihoods in substitution of coastal fishing trades, thereby reducing pressure on coastal resources and environment, creating new and stable jobs for fishermen and improve their living standards, and raising the responsibility to protect the eco-environment of coastal areas. To build and expand production models of collective offshore fishing;

- To reorganize the fishery logistic service system, build and develop models of association and joint venture connecting all stages of the production process, from exploitation and preservation to processing and sale of products, which are suitable to each fishing trade, maritime zone and locality. These models will promote the sharing of benefits between fishermen and organizations and enterprises, ensure stable product sale, and raise the value of products and profits for fishermen.

VII. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for organizing the implementation of the Program;

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance in, guiding organizations and individuals how to implement the Program;

- Summarize and work out medium-term and annual plans for the objectives and tasks of the Program and send them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for summarization in accordance with the Law on Public Investment, the Law on the State Budget and relevant legal documents;

- Inspect and supervise the implementation of the Program; periodically review and evaluate the program implementation;

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors in, amending and supplementing or formulating policies so as to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the Program;

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance in allocating resources and evaluating funding sources and the funding capability for the projects of the Program.

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, balancing and allocating development investment funds for the implementation of the Program under medium-term and annual plans;

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, evaluating funding sources and capability for the projects of the Program using central budget funds, funds raised from national bonds and government bonds, ODA loans and concessional loans of foreign donors;

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in inspecting and supervising the program implementation.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, allocating and arranging non-business funds for the Program;

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in allocating annual development investment funds for the Program;

- Coordinate with the program manager in developing and adjusting policies for the program implementation;

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in inspecting and supervising the program implementation.

4. Ministries and sectors participating in the Program and provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for organizing the program implementation in their ministries, sectors and localities;

- Review, and propose the formulation and implementation of, fisheries development investment projects for the program implementation;

- Formulate their medium-term and annual objectives and tasks, and send them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the Law on Public Investment, the Law on the State Budget and relevant legal documents;

- Manage, evaluate and check and take over the outcomes of the projects of the Program under their management; periodically report on the program implementation to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; and review results of the program implementation by their ministries, sectors and localities under regulations.

Article 2.Implementation provisions

This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decision.-

Prime Minister
NGUYEN XUAN PHUC