Decision No. 224/1999/QĐ-TTg Approving the Program for the Development of Aquaculture for the Period 1999-2010

DECISION

Approving the Program for Developing Aquaculture during the Period from 1999 to 2010

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

At the proposal of the Minister of Fisheries,

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. Approve the program for developing aquaculture during the period from 1999 to 2010 with the following contents;

I. OBJECTIVES:

Develop aquaculture to ensure food security and provide raw materials mainly for export. Strive to reach a total aquaculture production volume of over 2,000,000 tons by 2010, an export turnover value exceeding 2,500,000,000 USD, create employment and income for about 2 million people; contribute positively to national economic and social development and coastal security.

II. GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

1. Develop aquaculture towards sustainable development, combined with environmental protection; ensure production and stabilize the living standards of the people.

2. Aquaculture must gradually be modernized, developed primarily through industrial farming methods, combined with other suitable farming methods according to the conditions of each region.

3. Focus on developing brackish water and marine aquaculture, while also developing freshwater aquaculture.

4. Create significant changes in shrimp farming for export, while also paying attention to other types of aquaculture that serve domestic consumption and export.

III. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

Strive to achieve the following targets by 2010:

1. Shrimp farming on 260,000 hectares (including 60,000 hectares of industrial farming, 100,000 hectares of semi-intensive farming, 100,000 hectares of ecological balance farming, rotational and intercropping farming) to reach a production volume of 360,000 tons. The export value of shrimp will reach 1,400 million USD.

2. Marine fish farming on 40,000 hectares and 40,000 cages, reaching a production volume of 200,000 tons. Mainly cultivated species include: snapper, red snapper, grouper, yellowtail, mackerel...

3. Bivalve farming on 20,000 hectares, reaching a production volume of 380,000 tons. Mainly cultivated species include: cockle, clam, blood cockle, conch, abalone, scallop, sea cucumber...

4. Seaweed cultivation on 20,000 hectares, reaching a dry production volume of 50,000 tons (550,000 tons fresh). Mainly cultivated species include: golden thread seaweed, twisted seaweed, rope seaweed, and spineless seaweed.

5. Green tiger shrimp farming on 32,000 hectares, reaching a production volume of 60,000 tons.

6. Small pond aquaculture on 100,000 hectares, reaching a production volume of 480,000 tons. Mainly cultivated species include: hybrid carp, tilapia, tra catfish, grass carp, snakehead, giant gourami, silver pomfret, snakehead, eel...

7. Lowland paddy field aquaculture on 220,000 hectares, reaching a production volume of 170,000 tons. Mainly cultivated species include: common carp, tilapia, snakehead, threadfin bream...

8. Reservoir aquaculture on an area of 300,000 hectares, on rivers with 30,000 cages, reaching a production volume of 228,000 tons. Mainly cultivated species include: basa, tra catfish, giant gourami, tilapia, common carp, grass carp, silver pomfret, grass carp, rohu, mrigan...

IV. SOME KEY SOLUTIONS:

1. Regarding planning.

Review and adjust the planning for developing aquaculture in conjunction with establishing specific investment projects, linked to the overall planning for irrigation and coastal dike construction in the region, enhancing investment efficiency and effectively utilizing land and water resources for aquaculture.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Fisheries in constructing the planning system for coastal dikes and approving investment projects for building coastal dikes related to aquaculture.

The Ministry of Fisheries shall plan and specifically determine the number of breeding farms in each region and locality, particularly those producing shrimp and fish seeds for large-scale farming to supply raw materials for export.

2. Regarding market.

Develop the domestic market to meet the increasing demand for aquatic products of the people; at the same time, strongly develop the export market, including maintaining and expanding existing markets and actively seeking new markets. Market development must be linked to scientific and technological innovation, improving quality, reducing costs, diversifying aquatic products, and enhancing the sustainable competitiveness of Vietnamese aquatic products in the process of international integration.

3. Regarding capital.

Investment capital for the aquaculture program will be mobilized from the following sources:

- State budget capital (including loans and official development assistance from governments of other countries, and funding from international organizations);

- Medium-term and long-term credit;

- Short-term credit;

- Capital raised from organizations, individuals, and community residents;

- Foreign direct investment.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the State Bank of Vietnam, and relevant ministries and sectors to formulate measures to balance capital sources and allocate them according to annual plans for submission to the Government for decision-making to invest in projects implementing the program.

4. Regarding aquaculture seed.

Reorganize and enhance the research and production capacity of the seed system at all levels; the ability to protect natural breeding and spawning grounds for shrimp and fish, and preserve valuable genetic resources; ensure timely provision of sufficient high-quality seeds at reasonable prices for aquaculture, including importing seeds and necessary seed production technology.

5. Regarding industrial feed and aquaculture supplies.

Invest in upgrading and building new factories for producing industrial feed and fish meal; import necessary raw materials and technology to produce high-quality industrial feed domestically with reasonable costs, meeting 60% of the aquaculture feed needs during the 2000-2005 period, and 80% during the 2006-2010 period.

Provide adequate and comprehensive supplies and equipment to meet the requirements of aquaculture.

6. Regarding science and technology.

Strengthen scientific research, import technology, focusing first on seed production to achieve artificial reproduction of major farmed species, and eventually achieve artificial reproduction of specialty species; complete the technology for freshwater, brackish water, and marine farming for main farmed species; disease prevention and control measures; feed production technology; post-harvest preservation and processing technology.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Science and Technology and Environment shall allocate investment capital for scientific research based on annual proposals and specific project plans submitted by the Ministry of Fisheries.

7. Regarding training and capacity building for cadres and technical workers.

Enhance the capacity and technical infrastructure of research institutes and schools under the fisheries sector, collaborate with research institutes and schools of other sectors to train a cadre of researchers, managers, and technicians in aquaculture technology, seed production, environmental treatment, disease diagnosis and prevention, feed production, and post-harvest preservation; at the same time, employ various methods to train farmers and fishermen in aquaculture techniques and disease prevention.

8. Regarding production organization.

Based on regional planning, household and farm economies will be the main forms of production organization, combined with the development of appropriate cooperative economic forms to exploit all resources among the people, assist each other effectively in production and disaster prevention, contribute to protecting the ecological environment, and limit adverse impacts of market mechanisms.

State-owned enterprises play a leading role in providing logistics services for production and consumption, including prioritizing services such as seed supply, aquaculture techniques, industrial feed provision, and disease prevention...

9. Regarding fishery promotion work.

Improve and innovate the activities of the fishery promotion system from central to local levels, enhance the capacity of fishery promotion activities; build models to transfer advanced aquaculture technologies to the people for developing aquaculture.

10. Regarding international cooperation.

- Encourage joint ventures with foreign investors to invest in aquaculture, industrial feed production, aquatic seed production, innovation in aquaculture technology, and seafood processing technology for export.

- Strengthen scientific research cooperation and technology transfer in areas such as artificial reproduction, genetics, seed selection, sex conversion of valuable species, disease prevention, and environmental treatment.

- The Ministry of Fisheries shall coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant ministries and sectors to seek financial assistance from countries and international organizations to increase direct investment funds and training of cadres.

V. ON POLICIES:

1. Land and water use for aquaculture.

- Allocate or lease land, water bodies, straits, bays, lakes, large water reservoirs that have been planned for stable and long-term use by economic components for aquaculture, according to Decree No. 85/1999/NĐ-CP dated August 28, 1999 of the Government.

- Allow the conversion of saline paddy fields, low-lying paddy fields, salt-making land, and unstable and inefficient rice-producing flood-prone lands to aquaculture.

2. Investment policies.

2.1. Economic components are encouraged by the State to invest in developing aquaculture according to the Law on Encouraging Domestic Investment (amended) and current regulations.

- The State has a policy allowing poor farmers and fishermen who have labor and land for aquaculture to borrow capital without collateral.

- Farmers and fishermen in remote, mountainous, and island areas borrowing capital to develop aquaculture enjoy preferential regulations according to current provisions.

2.2. State budget capital invested in:

- Planning, construction of technical infrastructure serving concentrated aquaculture zones including: embankments, primary water supply and drainage channels, large sluices and pumping stations, fishing ports, fish markets, and national-level technical infrastructure within fishing ports and fish markets in key fishing regions.

- Construction and completion of national seed centers, upgrading and improving first-level seed farms.

- Scientific research; introduction of new cultured species, new technologies.

- Construction of monitoring and environmental forecasting stations, quarantine facilities.

- Construction of national nature reserves.

- Training human resources.

- Fishery promotion activities.

- Management and operation of program activities.

2.3. Medium and long-term credit capital invested in the renovation, upgrading, and construction of new feed production facilities, fish meal production facilities, first and second-level seed production facilities, and pond and lake renovations for economic components.

2.4. Short-term credit capital invested in production and business of seeds, feeds, medicines for shrimp and fish, and specialized materials for aquaculture.

2.5. Foreign investment capital through projects assisting in technical support, consulting, training, introducing new technologies, technology transfer, and fishery promotion.

3. On taxes:

- Organizations and individuals belonging to economic components participating in implementing the Aquaculture Development Program shall enjoy tax incentives according to the Law on Encouraging Domestic Investment (amended) and current regulations.

- Aquaculture on land and water bodies classified as agricultural land shall implement tax policies according to the current Law on Taxation of Agricultural Land Use.

- Exempt transportation taxes for aquatic seed transport to remote, mountainous, and island areas.

VI. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION.

1. The Ministry of Fisheries is the agency responsible for directing and organizing the implementation of the program nationwide, with the following responsibilities:

- Guide localities in building the program, investment plans, specific projects to implement the program; aggregate and submit for approval and review according to regulations.

The Ministry of Fisheries shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Science, Technology, and Environment, and related ministries and sectors to promptly establish pilot models of industrial shrimp farming in three regions (North, Central, South) to determine investment costs, investment effectiveness, and continue to guide future years.

- Supplement and specify solutions for implementing the program; conduct annual reviews, summarize good models for widespread dissemination, and promptly propose appropriate policies to promote the movement.

- Develop state and industry standards for breeding procedures, seed production, ecological environment protection, disease prevention... and submit to the Prime Minister for approval or promulgate according to authority.

- Consolidate and strengthen the operational capacity of research agencies and fishery promotion organizations.

2. Relevant ministries and sectors: Planning and Investment, Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, Science, Technology, and Environment, State Bank, Civil Service Committee of the Government, National Land Administration, and related ministries and sectors shall cooperate with the Ministry of Fisheries in formulating annual investment plans; developing and specifying mechanisms and policies to create favorable conditions for implementing the program.

3. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall have the duty to develop local aquaculture development programs consistent with the national program; balance the local budget and allocate appropriate funds together with central funds to implement the program; direct the preparation of specific projects for approval in accordance with regulations, and simultaneously direct the implementation of the program at the local level; conduct mid-term reviews, final evaluations, and report on the results of implementation.

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of signature.

The Ministry of Fisheries shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to guide and direct the implementation of this program.

Article 3. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, and Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are responsible for enforcing this Decision./.