Hanoi (VNA)- Vietnam is to have 280,000 ha of marine aquaculturearea and 10.5 million cubic metres of farming cages by 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development(MARD).

Annual marine aquaculture output and export turnover are expected to reach 850,000tonnes and between 800 million and 1 billion USD, the ministry said.

The MARD has taken a series of measures to promote sustainable marine aquaculturein coastal areas nationwide, towards turning the sector into a key part of the country’s maritime economy by 2045.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said agencieshave coordinated with coastal localities to review and build a plan for aquaculturedevelopment in Vietnam to 2030 with a vision to 2045.

The plan will focus on improving the output, quality, and economic efficiency ofmarine aquaculture, protecting the environment and adapting to climate change, restructuringproduction activities, and building value chains for each group of products, withindustrial marine aquaculture to play a key role.

Incentive policies will be available to offshore industrial aquaculture enterprises,to encourage them to invest.

Attention will be paid to creating business communities in offshore aquaculturein major coastal cities and provinces, including Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Binh Dinh,Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ca Mau, and KienGiang, as well as others with substantial potential.

Marine aquaculture and aquatic processing centres, logistics services, and fisheriesinfrastructure will be developed in north-central and central coastal localitiesfrom Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan.

Priority will be given to developing models of multi-species farming and in supportingestablishments shifting away from traditional models to industrial models.

The application of high technologies, international cooperation in technology transfer,and investment attraction in the field will be also promoted, while relevant researchprojects will be supported.

Vietnam aims to have an advanced marine farming industry with sustainable developmentand systematic management by 2045. The country is set to raise annual output andexport value to 3 million tonnes and over 10 billion USD./.