Decision No. 126/2005/QĐ-TTg On certain policies to encourage the development of marine aquaculture on seas and islands

Pursuant to …;

On certain policies to encourage the development of marine aquaculture on the sea and islands

cultivation of aquatic products in the sea and islands

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Fisheries,

DECISION:

Article 1The State encourages and creates favorable conditions for organizations, households, individuals from various economic sectors both domestic and foreign to invest in marine aquaculture on the sea and islands, thereby leveraging the advantages and potential of coastal localities, making marine aquaculture on the sea a key industry producing large quantities of goods to meet domestic consumption and export needs, while also contributing positively to the protection of coastal fishery resources.

Article 2. Allocation and leasing of marine surface water:

1. Organizations, individuals, and households that need to use sea surface areas and land on islands for aquaculture shall be allocated or leased such land and sea surface areas for aquaculture by the People's Committees of provinces directly under the Central Government (hereinafter referred to as the People's Committees of provinces) in accordance with laws on land and fisheries.

2. Encouragement is given to organizations and individuals to invest in building infrastructure for large-scale aquaculture zones or to lease back sea surface areas that have been invested in infrastructure to other organizations and individuals for aquaculture purposes.

Article 3. On investment from the state budget:

A. The central government budget will invest and support investment in:

1. Comprehensive planning for marine aquaculture on the sea and islands nationwide.

2. Supporting projects to import disease-free original strains of some valuable marine species with high economic value and rare species, and new production technologies to produce domestic seedlings to meet production needs.

3. Supporting projects to apply advanced techniques and new technologies in seedling production and marine aquaculture on the sea and islands.

4. Training a team of scientific and technical staff to research and apply new science and technology in seedling production and marine aquaculture.

5. Annually, the state budget prioritizes funding for promotional activities related to marine aquaculture on the sea and islands.

B. Local government budgets will invest and support investment in:

1. Planning for aquaculture zones on the sea and islands of localities.

2. Supporting artificial breeding of some valuable marine species with high economic value and requiring high production technology and significant investment, such as grouper, lobster, sea cucumber, abalone, etc.

3. Supporting projects to build essential infrastructure for aquaculture zones including electricity, buoy systems, boundary lights between aquaculture areas and shipping lanes, and main anchoring and floating cage systems.

Investment and support for the development of marine aquaculture on the sea and islands using the state budget as stipulated in this Article must have a project approved by the competent authority according to regulations. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance will balance funds in the annual plan and allocate capital for these projects. Coastal provincial People's Committees will allocate part of their local budget to implement specific and appropriate policies to encourage and support in line with local conditions.

Article 4. On credit:

1. Poor households can borrow from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies in accordance with current regulations.

2. The State Bank of Vietnam directs credit institutions to take measures to promptly meet the borrowing needs of organizations, individuals, and households eligible for loans to participate in marine aquaculture on the sea and islands.

3. Coastal provincial People's Committees will use local budgets to subsidize interest rates for loans for aquaculture projects, in line with specific local conditions; prioritize allocating funds from the National Employment Fund for feasible loan projects that attract additional employment.

Article 5. Implementation

1. Coastal provincial People's Committees will cooperate with the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop plans for aquaculture zones on the sea and islands ensuring environmental protection and sustainable development requirements; direct the establishment of some production models to draw lessons and widely promote to accelerate and effectively develop marine aquaculture on the sea and islands.

2. The Ministry of Fisheries will lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and coastal localities to complete the national comprehensive plan for marine aquaculture on the sea and islands as soon as possible; direct the organization of promotional activities to assist localities in establishing production models, strengthen forms of publicity and training for fishermen in coastal localities to master advanced marine aquaculture techniques.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance will allocate balanced budget funds in the annual plan to implement projects.

Article 6. This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, Chairmen of People's Committees of coastal provinces directly under the Central Government are responsible for implementing this Decision.