Decision 985/QD-TTg 2022 National Program on aquaculture development in 2021-2030

DECISION

Promulgating the National Program on aquaculture development in the 2021-2030 period^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government; and the November 22, 2019 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Administration;

Pursuant to the November 21, 2017 Law on Fisheries;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 339/QD-TTg of March 1, 2021, approving Vietnam’s Fisheries Development Strategy up to 2030, with a vision toward 2045;

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

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the National Program on aquaculture development in the 2021-2030 period (below referred to as the Program) with the following contents:

I. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

To develop aquaculture in an effective and sustainable manner, proactively adapting to climate change; to improve productivity, quality, value and competitiveness of aquaculture products; and to meet requirements of domestic and export markets. By 2030, the aquaculture production output will reach 7 million tons/year, contributing to creating jobs and improving income for workers.

2. Specific goals

a/ The 2021-2025 period

- By 2025, the total aquaculture production output will reach 5.6 million tons/year, the export turnover will reach USD 7.8 billion/year, and the growth rate of aquaculture value will reach an average of 4%/year.

- To produce and be able to meet over 50% of the demand for black tiger shrimp broodstock, more than 25% of the demand for white-leg shrimp broodstock, and over 70% of the demand for artificially selected tra catfish broodstock; to take the initiative in production so as to be able to supply sufficient seeds of aquatic species with high economic value and large volume of commodity products.

- To invest in and upgrade essential major infrastructure facilities to meet production requirements for more than 30 concentrated aquaculture areas and concentrated seed production areas.

- To set up production-processing-consumption chains, ensuring stable outlets for over 30% of aquaculture product output.

b/ The 2026-2030 period

- By 2030, the total aquaculture production output will reach 7 million tons/year, the export turnover will reach USD 12 billion/year, and the growth rate of aquaculture value will reach an average of over 4.5%/year.

- To produce and be able to meet over 60% of the demand for black tiger shrimp and white-leg shrimp broodstock and 100% of the demand for artificially selected tra catfish broodstock; to improve the quality of seeds of aquatic species with high economic value and large volume of commodity products.

- To invest in and upgrade essential major infrastructure facilities to meet production requirements for more than 50 concentrated aquaculture areas and concentrated seed production areas.

- To set up production-processing-consumption chains, ensuring stable outlets for over 50% of aquaculture product output.

II. CONTENTS OF THE PROGRAM

1. Development of fishery seed production

a/ Raising fishery seed production capacity

- To attract different economic sectors to invest in research, production and development of fishery seeds so as to meet practical production needs.

- To encourage organizations, enterprises and individuals to develop and apply quality control and biosecurity systems and quality standards in production and nursing of fishery seeds.

- To formulate and improve standards and test methods to control, evaluate, assess and inspect the quality of fishery seeds.

b/ Development of production of fishery seeds by species group

- For brackish-water shrimp: To continue implementing programs on domestication of black tiger shrimp and selective breeding of white-leg shrimp so as to take the initiative in domestic production. Shrimp seeds shall be subject to quality control before and during circulation in the market and must not carry dangerous pathogens according to regulations.

- For tra catfish: To continue implementing selective breeding programs in the direction of improving quality, meeting market requirements, adapting to climate change, and being resistant to some common dangerous diseases. Tra catfish seeds shall be subject to quality control before and during circulation in the market and must not carry dangerous pathogens according to regulations.

- For aquatic species for which seed production technologies are available: To apply new technical solutions and transfer new technologies in seed production and nursing and selective breeding (new, mono-sex, hybrid, polyploidy seeds, etc.) to improve the quality of seeds.

- For aquatic species for which seed production technologies remain unavailable: To strictly control the quantity and quality of imported seeds and seeds exploited from the nature. To take the initiative in researching, acquiring and applying technologies in seed production and nursing.

- For microalgae, seaweed, aquatic ornamental species, and aquatic species for use for the purposes of entertainment and fine-art article, jewelry and pharmaceutical production: To research and import seed production technologies suitable to production needs and practical conditions.

2. Aquaculture development

a/ Development of farming by species group

- For brackish-water shrimp:

+ To apply new, advanced and eco-friendly techniques to production in order to save water and fuel, strive to refrain from using antibiotics in production, create products of high quality and value, and meet market requirements; to practice certified farming and farming in the direction of minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the use of plastic materials that are harmful to the ecological environment and reducing environmental pollution.

+ To diversify farming methods based on conditions of each region and in adaption to the impacts of climate change. To develop shrimp farming in areas affected by saltwater intrusion and areas that used to be low-efficient agricultural production areas in conformity with natural conditions and local land-use master plans and plans.

+ To prioritize the development of temperature-controlled farming methods in winter for the coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Thua Thien Hue.

+ To prioritize the development of black tiger shrimp farming in mangrove forests, organic farming, and shrimp-rice farming; to continue to develop white-leg shrimp farming in areas with suitable natural conditions in the Southwestern coastal provinces to meet market demands in compliance with local master plans.

- For tra catfish:

+ To continue to develop tra catfish farming in the Mekong River Delta and other areas with suitable natural conditions, ensuring compliance with local land-use master plans and plans.

+ To strictly control conditions of farming facilities according to current regulations, encourage the expansion of farming areas according to standards in order to create high-quality products, ensure food safety, and meet outlet market demands and requirements.

+ To encourage the application of new farming technologies which are water-efficient and adaptive to climate change, and wastewater and sludge treatment technologies to protect the environment.

- For tilapia:

To continue to develop concentrated farming areas in freshwater, brackish-water and saltwater ponds; to practice cage farming on rivers and reservoirs. To apply new technologies to production so as to turn out commodity products for export processing.

- For saltwater fish, lobster, and mollusks:

+ To implement contents on development of saltwater fish, lobster and mollusk farming prescribed in the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1664/QD-TTg of October 4, 2021, approving the Scheme on offshore aquaculture development through 2030, with a vision to 2045.

+ Regarding lobster farming, to strictly manage and control conditions of farming facilities according to regulations; to review and arrange farming cages in a density that complies with technical requirements and conforms to environmental carrying capacity. To apply and experiment offshore and ashore caged lobster farming models (using tanks with recirculating aquaculture systems).

+ To develop concentrated mollusk farming areas that meet technical requirements and standards of assorted markets; to strictly control food quality and safety, and disease safety.

- For coldwater fish:

+ To continue to expand the scale of coldwater fish farming in potential, suitable areas in the Northwest, Central Highlands and some other localities with suitable water sources.

+ To apply new technologies to production so as to save water, protect the environment, and turn out a large output of products of high quality for domestic and export markets.

+ To diversify products from coldwater fish (caviar, smoked fish, etc.) to improve product value.

- For microalgae species, seaweed, aquatic ornamental species and aquatic species for the purposes of entertainment and fine-art article, jewelry and pharmaceutical production:

+ To apply new technologies to develop the farming of valuable seaweed species in suitable ecological zones so as to turn out a large volume of products, meeting requirements on food quality and safety and market, contributing to increase carbon credits.

+ To organize and rearrange existing farming areas and develop farming areas for aquatic ornamental species and aquatic species for the purposes of entertainment and fine-art article, jewelry and pharmaceutical production, in association with building systems for provision of services, supply of materials and techniques and consumption. To invest in new scientific and technological advances to promote commodity production of aquatic ornamental species.

- For crustaceans (except brackish-water shrimp and lobster):

+ To develop giant freshwater prawn monoculture, co-culture and rotational culture farming models (shrimp-rice co-culture farming, giant freshwater shrimp farming in garden ditches and mixed-culture farming of giant freshwater prawn and other aquatic species). To form concentrated farming areas in localities with suitable conditions and use land and water surface areas affected by climate change and saltwater intrusion for  giant freshwater prawn farming to increase output, value and efficiency.

+ To develop models of intensive farming and co-culture farming for other crustaceans in suitable ecological zones. To apply scientific and technological advances to production in order to improve productivity, quality and value of products.

- For traditional, indigenous and specialty aquatic species:

+ To reorganize farming areas for indigenous and specialty aquatic species, and apply new technologies to production meeting the conditions of food safety and disease safety.

+ To exploit potential water surface of rivers, streams, and hydropower and irrigation reservoirs so as to develop aquaculture, provide food, create livelihoods, and contribute to eliminating hunger and reducing poverty and increasing income for people.

b/ Control of food quality and safety and traceability in aquaculture

- To conduct public communication and dissemination of importing markets’ laws and requirements on food quality and safety in the stages of production, harvest and transportation of aquatic products.

- To formulate and develop farming areas that meet food safety requirements and apply measures to monitor residues of chemicals, drugs and antibiotics; to formulate and apply traceability systems in accordance with law and meeting market requirements.

- To inspect and supervise compliance with regulations and handle violations in the fields of food quality and safety, and traceability of aquatic products.

- To improve the system of legal documents on food quality and safety, conformity assessment and handling of violations in the field of food safety.

c/ Disease safety control and environmental monitoring in aquaculture

- To build and develop disease-free aquaculture facilities and areas with priority given to key farmed species and farmed species with high commodity value.

- To formulate standards and technical regulations on quality of aquaculture water and wastewater from aquaculture areas.

- To encourage organizations and individuals to invest in environmental monitoring and warning in concentrated fishery seed production areas and concentrated aquaculture areas; to apply digital platform-based new technologies to assess the impact of climate change and saltwater intrusion and timely inform monitoring results so that producers can take the initiative in handling environmental incidents and epidemics.

3. Investment in and upgrading of aquaculture infrastructure facilities

- To continue to invest in, upgrade and complete essential major infrastructure facilities in a number of concentrated fishery seed production areas and concentrated aquaculture areas in the direction of efficient and sustainable production; to give priority to investment in farming areas of key species and farming areas with a large volume of commodity products so as to spread and develop farming areas that are capable of ensuring food safety and disease safety, minimizing environmental pollution, and meeting requirements of the consumption market.

- To invest in upgrading and completing infrastructure facilities in service of training, coaching, research, fishery seed storage, and application and transfer of technology in fishery seed production and nursing and aquaculture.

- To invest in building a number of trade and service centers specialized in materials, equipment and products of the fisheries sector, especially in border provinces and key aquaculture areas.

4. Development of the system of material production and supply and auxiliary industries in support of aquaculture

- To promote the production of aquatic animal feed suitable for each farmed species and farming form and conditions in the direction of reducing dependence on fishmeal; to increase the ratio of domestic raw materials so as to reduce product costs, reduce dependence on imported raw materials and protect the environment.

- To promote the production of environment treatment products in aquaculture from eco-friendly materials in conformity with each farming form and farmed species.

- To promote the production of aquatic veterinary drugs from eco-friendly materials, gradually replacing antibiotics used in aquaculture.

- To promote the production and use of new materials, machinery and equipment in the direction of safety, fuel-efficiency and environmental protection in aquaculture.

- To formulate and improve standards and test methods to control, evaluate, assess, verify and inspect the quality of fishery materials.

- To encourage different economic sectors to invest in technology transfer and build material and equipment production and service provision establishments in the country so as to take the initiative in production, reduce costs and improve competitiveness in aquaculture.

5. Improvement of the quality of human resources and production organization

a/ Improving the quality of human resources

- To develop human resources engaged in management, research and technical guidance provision according to the contents of the Scheme on training and development of human resources for the fisheries sector and the Scheme on state management capacity building in the fisheries sector.

- To review and improve the system of human resource training for the development of the fisheries sector. To organize training and coaching on production, new technologies, markets, workers’ rights, and relevant legal regulations for the workforce participating in aquatic product production and trading chains.

- To organize coaching and training for cadres to obtain knowledge on international trade integration in the fisheries sector, trade barriers, and technical barriers related to aquaculture products.

- To set orientations for, provide training and apply digital technologies in production, supply, distribution, and forecasting (price, seasonality, etc.), access new scientific and technical data, search for markets and promote products for each organization or individual engaged in aquaculture; to promote the development of e-commerce in the production and consumption of aquaculture products.

- To encourage businesses, organizations and individuals to participate and invest in training and coaching of pesonnel in service of aquaculture.

b/ Developing models of cooperation and association in production and consumption of products

- To continue to develop and expand cooperative groups, cooperatives, co-management groups and models of joint ventures and associations between organizations and individuals in the form of cooperation associated with the Program on building new-style countryside; to develop linkage chains in the 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.

- To formulate and implement programs on communication and provision of support for registration of intellectual property rights protection for a number of products (geographical indications, certification marks, collective marks, etc.) in service of the development of brands for specialty aquatic products of regions and localities.

6. Research and application of technologies in aquaculture

a/ Research and application of technologies

- To conduct artificial breeding, selective breeding so as to create new aquatic breeds with potential for development, breeds for off-season farming, and fast-growing, disease-resistant, disease-free breeds that are highly adaptable to environmental conditions; and breeds of microalgae, seaweed, and aquatic ornamental species, and species for fine-art article or pharmaceutical production and other purposes.

- To develop suitable, eco-friendly, water-, fuel- and raw material-efficient farming technologies so as to reduce dependence on natural resources; to restrict the use of drugs and chemicals that are likely to affect the environment and food safety.

- To develop technical solutions and new technologies in management, collection and treatment of waste, wastewater from aquaculture, by-products from aquaculture and aquatic product processing to increase value and reduce impacts on the environment.

- To research and develop disease prevention and treatment measures (vaccine technology, enzyme technology, etc.) on farmed aquatic animals.

- To improve the system of national standards and national technical regulations; to prioritize harmonization with international standards and regional standards; to socialize and improve the capacity of the system of conformity assessment bodies in aquaculture.

b/ Application of technologies in aquaculture

- To apply technological solutions to improve productivity and quality of aquatic products.

- To accelerate the transition to application of automation technology at stages related to occupational safety and requiring quick handling of situations such as harvest, product preservation, environmental monitoring and warning, and traceability.

- To apply geographic information system (GIS), Industry 4.0’s technologies, and blockchain technologies in production, management of farming areas and traceability, ensuring connection with the National Traceability Portal.

III. Priority projects

The list of priority projects is provided in Appendices I and II to this Decision.

IV. Funds for implementation

1. Funds for implementation

To diversify mobilized funding sources and efficiently use resources for implementation of the Program.

- State budget funds allocated annually (development investment and infrastructure investment expenditures, recurrent expenditures) under current regulations on state budget management decentralization.

- Funds incorporated in public investment programs, schemes and projects in the 2021-2030 period.

- Funds mobilized from foreign donors, international organizations and domestic and foreign enterprises, organizations and individuals and other lawful sources.

2. Mechanisms for utilization of investment funds

- To prioritize central budget funds for investment in building essential focal infrastructure facilities in large-scale concentrated aquaculture areas and concentrated seed production areas for key farmed species and farmed species of high economic value and priority projects specified in Appendices I and II to this Decision.

- To prioritize funds from local budgets for investment in building and upgrading infrastructure facilities of concentrated seed production areas and concentrated aquaculture areas for potential aquatic animals to meet local demands; to participate in the implementation of central budget-funded projects; and to encourage localities to use their local budgets and other lawful funding sources to invest in central budget-prioritized infrastructure facilities.

- ODA and FDI funds will be invested in building and upgrading aquaculture infrastructure facilities to meet environmental protection, production safety and food safety requirements.

- Funds of other economic sectors and those mobilized for building production, business and logistic service infrastructure facilities must comply with current regulations.

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

a/ To coordinate and organize the implementation of the Program nationwide; to allocate recurrent expenditures for inspection, monitoring, evaluation, and organization of seminars/conferences on implementation, preliminary review and final review of the implementation of the Program.

b/ To issue a set of criteria for determination of concentrated aquaculture areas and concentrated seed production areas prioritized for investment by central and local budgets in conformity with  development conditions in each period and stage; and a set of criteria for identification of priority aquaculture development projects.

c/ To calculate and include funds in the annually assigned state budget estimates and send them to the Ministry of Finance for submission to competent authorities in accordance with the law on the state budget.

d/ To sum up, appraise and approve investment projects on building aquaculture infrastructure facilities in accordance with the Law on Public Investment; to sum up, appraise and approve aquaculture development projects prioritized for implementation in the 2021-2030 period.

dd/ To review, and propose the formulation of, mechanisms and policies to encourage and attract different economic sectors to invest in all stages of the whole value chain of farmed aquatic products.

e/ To guide and urge ministries, sectors and localities to organize the implementation of the Program; to inspect, supervise, evaluate, and organize seminars/conferences on implementation, preliminary review and final review of the implementation of the Program; to report to the Prime Minister the annual and 5-year implementation results and final review of the Program, promptly propose, recommend and submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision arising issues falling beyond its competence; to supplement and adjust the Program’s contents and priority projects to suit reality.

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment

a/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and related ministries and sectors in, balancing and allocating development investment funds for projects under the Program in accordance with the Law on Public Investment and other relevant laws.

b/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and related ministries and sectors in, proposing solutions and mobilizing investment resources for implementing the Program.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall base itself on the fund-balancing capacity of the central budget and proposals of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and related ministries and sectors to include funds for implementation of the Program in the annual recurrent expenditure estimates of the central budget and submit them to competent authorities for balancing and allocation of funds under the Law on the State Budget and guiding documents.

4. The Ministry of Science and Technology

a/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and related ministries and sectors in, formulating and promulgating national standards, prioritizing harmonization with international and regional standards; to appraise national technical regulations; to improve the system of legal documents on standards, technical regulations, product and goods quality and conformity assessment activities; to apply traceability; to support the protection of intellectual property rights; to prioritize the allocation of funds to implement the contents regarding scientific and technological research, application and development in aquaculture development.

b/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and related ministries and sectors in, incorporating the contents and tasks of scientific and technological development and application in aquaculture in the approved scientific and technological priority programs.

5. The Ministry of Industry and Trade

a/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, studying and implementing appropriate policies and solutions to develop markets and solve trade barriers for aquatic products.

b/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, evaluating the current status of the power supply system and allocating resources for investment in infrastructure so as to supply sufficient electricity to concentrated aquaculture and hi-tech farming areas.

c/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in studying and timely providing information on requirements, demands and tastes for farmed aquatic products of consumers in potential markets so as to work out orientations for production, farming, and processing and export of farmed aquatic products.

6. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

a/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in, studying and proposing mechanisms, policies and regulations on management of water resources and allocation of land and water surface areas for aquaculture in conformity with reality and in accordance with law.

b/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in, timely providing results of periodical monitoring of the water environment at monitoring points serving aquaculture to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities for the latter to give early warning to farmers to minimize risks.

c/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in, taking the initiative in formulating and proposing plans on response to climate change and environmental pollution that are likely to impact aquaculture development.

7. The State Bank of Vietnam shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors in, studying and proposing incentive policies regarding credit capital, and lending interest rates and terms for organizations and individuals engaged in investment and production activities in the field of aquaculture that meet the criteria set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

8. Provincial-level People’s Committees

a/ Based on their local practical conditions and plans on implementation of the Fisheries Development Strategy for the 2021-2030 period and the Program’s contents, to direct the formulation, approval and implementation of their action plans on implementation of the Program.

b/ To allocate annual funds from local budgets and mobilize other lawful funding sources in accordance with regulations to implement the Program in their localities. To prioritize the allocation of locally managed funds to implement investment projects on building infrastructure facilities in concentrated aquaculture areas in their localities.

c/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the process of implementation of central budget-funded projects on building aquaculture infrastructure facilities, ensuring the consistency and synchronicity with local master plans on socio-economic development.

d/ To arrange land use according to master plans, balance and allocate funds for joint implementation of central budget-funded projects and take charge of post-investment management and maintenance of work items.

dd/ To receive central budget-funded projects; to take charge of post-investment management and operation of aquaculture infrastructure facilities in accordance with regulations on management and use of public assets.

e/ To organize preliminary reviews and evaluation of the implementation of the Program on an annual and 5-year basis and conduct final review of the Program and report the results thereof to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development before December 20 every year.

9. Trade societies and associations

a/ To cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in disseminating and guiding their members on aquaculture-related regulations of Vietnam and importing countries.

b/ To promote export, trade and market development.

c/ To support market analysis and forecasting and provide market information to organizations and individuals engaged in aquaculture and aquatic product processing and export.

d/ To take part in the building of brands for aquaculture products, trade promotion and handling of trade disputes and technical barriers relating to aquaculture and aquatic product processing and export, and expansion of outlet markets; to share market information; to take part in technical training and technology transfer; to support organizations and individuals to invest in developing and organizing value chain-based aquaculture along the line of responsibility, quality, efficiency and sustainability.

10. Related organizations and individuals

a/ To comply with the provisions of law on aquaculture.

b/ To take part in implementing investment projects on building infrastructure for aquaculture development, projects on science and technology research and transfer, environmental monitoring, seed production, certification and other production and business activities under this Program.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, and heads of related agencies and units shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
LE VAN THANH

* The appendices to this Decision are not translated.