Smart aquaculture for sustainable development

Embracing trends to drive breakthroughs

Hai Vuong Vietnam Co., Ltd.’s branch in Hai An Ward, Hai Phong City, is a pioneer in developing the largest standardized tilapia farming areas in northern Vietnam. Director Nguyen Van Doan said the company's goal is to establish tilapia farming areas free of banned substances while promoting digital transformation in aquaculture.

The company uses AQUANIX, an electronic logbook, as a modern production management tool. The system digitizes the entire fish-farming process, from pond preparation and stocking to feeding, environmental management, disease prevention, sample weighing, harvesting and QR-code-based traceability.

Meanwhile, Ba Thon Ecological Cooperative in Kien Hai Commune has achieved success in freshwater aquaculture by raising fish in above-ground ponds on abandoned rice fields. Its model is supported by an integrated design of production facilities, including farming ponds, water supply and drainage systems, auxiliary areas, access roads and other technical infrastructure.

Following the administrative merger, Hai Phong now has approximately 54,600 hectares of potential aquaculture area. In recent years, the city's aquaculture has made positive progress, gradually shifting from traditional farming methods to intensive production, applying scientific and technical advances and digital technologies to improve productivity and product quality.

Targeting sustainable development

To achieve tangible results from digital transformation in aquaculture, in recent years, the Hai Phong Department of Agriculture and Environment has directed comprehensive digitalization of the city's aquaculture sector, aiming to develop smart, sustainable and higher-value fisheries. Digital transformation is therefore being implemented across three pillars: digitizing management databases, applying technology to production processes, and publicizing market supply chains.

Dr. Doan Thanh Loan of the Faculty of Fisheries at Vietnam National University of Agriculture said that to fully realize its potential, Hai Phong's aquaculture sector needs to shift from a production-volume mindset to one focused on value, quality and sustainability. To achieve this, digital transformation must go beyond data digitization and lay the foundation for smart management and data-driven decision-making.

According to Vu Ba Cong, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, to encourage farmers to adopt digital technologies in aquaculture, the department will continue to effectively implement Central and city policies supporting aquaculture development.

It will also facilitate access to preferential loans so farmers can invest in infrastructure, equipment and high technology for production. In addition, the department will strengthen training, technical guidance and technology transfer, while developing and expanding effective farming models that local people can visit, learn from and apply in practice.

The development of aquaculture through digital transformation is an inevitable trend for improving production efficiency, protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development of aquaculture during 2026 – 2030.

HUONG AN