Ben Tre province in Vietnam is gearing up to prioritize the advancement of its marine economy, aspiring to become the leading province in establishing a robust and sustainable marine economy in the Mekong Delta by 2030.
Deputy Chairman Nguyen Minh Canh underscored the province’s strategic focus on renewable energy, aquaculture, and coastal tourism. The overarching goals include fostering ecological marine culture, addressing climate change, safeguarding the marine environment, combating coastal erosion, and preserving marine ecology.
To achieve these objectives, the province has outlined key priorities, including allocating marine space for the development of renewable energy and environmentally friendly marine economy sectors. The authorities will actively support and expedite investments in zoned wind power projects between the present and 2030.
In the realm of renewable energy, Ben Tre province aims to achieve an output of 1,500 megawatts (MW) from solar and wind power by 2025, with a more ambitious target of reaching 3,000 MW by 2030.
In the domain of aquaculture, the province is committed to the development of high-tech, biosafety, and environmentally friendly practices over the next decade. The goal is to attain an aquaculture output of 136,000 tonnes by 2030, generating a production value of VND 450 million (US $18,460) per hectare annually. Ben Tre plans to establish 5,100 hectares of high-tech farming areas dedicated to breeding aquatic species and producing fry by 2030.
Stringent quality standards will be enforced in all concentrated aquaculture areas, ensuring compliance with Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) or equivalent standards. Presently, the province boasts 3,067 hectares of high-tech marine shrimp breeding areas, yielding an annual output of over 128,000 tonnes, with a particular focus on shrimp, a key aquatic species for the region.
Ben Tre province will also upgrade its inspection data management systems for fishing boats, ensuring that the management and development of fishing boats align with their granted licenses. Improvements in the service quality of fishing ports, storm shelters for fishing boats, and facilities involved in the production, repair, and logistics services for fishing boats are on the agenda. These measures collectively aim to enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of the Ben Tre province’s marine economy in Vietnam.
