Driving force for marine economic development

QTO - In recent years, the fisheries sector has become one of the province's economic spearheads, contributing significantly to local economic growth, especially in coastal areas. Towards the 2025-2030 term, Quang Tri province is determined to build the locality into a marine economic center of the country. This is not only an economic goal but also a long-term strategy, associated with protecting sea and island sovereignty and sustainable development.

The fisheries industry is changing dramatically.

Cua Viet Commune, one of the key fishing localities of the province with an average exploitation output of nearly 12 thousand tons/year, reaching 101% of the plan. Not only stopping at exploitation, the field of purchasing and processing seafood here also has strong progress. The purchasing and processing output reached nearly 79 thousand tons, creating an important premise to expand the market and increase the added value of local seafood products.

Having spent his whole life at sea, Mr. Ho Van Thu, a fisherman in Cua Viet commune, said: “I have been working at sea for 30 years, from fishing near the shore to going far offshore. We continue to stick to the sea to both produce, develop the economy, and protect the sovereignty of our homeland's sea and islands.” Mr. Phan Van Trong, the owner of a fish drying facility in Cua Viet, shared: “My facility steams about 300-400 tons of fish each season. I always try to find sources of goods to develop the drying profession, create regular jobs for 15 workers and increase income for the people.”

Photo: Quang Tri fishermen confidently go to sea - Photo: BC

Despite facing many difficulties such as natural disasters, epidemics, climate change or fluctuating market prices, in the 2020-2025 term, the fisheries industry still has strong development steps, going in the right direction. The province's fisheries output maintains a high and stable growth rate. It is estimated that by 2025, the total output will reach more than 138 thousand tons. Notably, nearly 100% of fishermen's fishing vessels have installed voyage monitoring equipment, strictly complying with regulations against IUU fishing, contributing to helping Quang Tri's fisheries deeply integrate into the international market. In the past 5 years, the GRDP growth rate of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector has reached an average of 3.13%/year. These are very remarkable numbers, affirming that the Quang Tri fisheries industry is strongly transforming towards commodity production, modernity and sustainability.

Along with exploitation, farming and processing activities have also gradually affirmed their position. Director of Bao Ninh Specialty Cooperative (HTX) Tran Thi Ha Thu shared: “Opening an OCOP store has been a long-standing desire of the Cooperative. In the past, the Cooperative only sold in the hamlet and village, but in response to the increasing demand of the market, people knew about the unit's products, the Cooperative decided to expand its scale and bring its products further”. Obviously, the companionship of businesses, cooperatives and fishermen has helped Quang Tri seafood gain more momentum and expand its consumption market both domestically and internationally.

Reaching out to become a maritime economic center

The draft political report submitted to the 1st Provincial Party Congress, term 2025-2030 clearly stated: Agriculture, forestry and fishery continue to account for about 12.4% -12.9% of the province's GRDP.

By 2030, Quang Tri strives to achieve a total aquatic product output of 150,000 tons; at the same time, improve productivity and farming efficiency. The province will promote processing development, increase the value of deeply processed products to over 30% of the total production value of the aquatic industry, continue to improve product quality, research and expand consumption markets, especially export markets. At the same time, promote OCOP aquatic products and develop marine fishing cooperatives, striving to have at least 1-2 aquatic products each year meeting OCOP standards of 3 stars or higher.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province Nguyen Huu Vinh, to achieve the above goals, the fisheries sector will focus on 5 key groups of solutions. "The first is to restructure production organizations, support the conversion of fishing to developing marine aquaculture; effectively organize offshore fishing activities, effectively combat IUU fishing; encourage large enterprises to invest in the fisheries sector; promote the application of high science and technology in aquaculture, exploitation and processing of aquatic products. The second is to increase investment in infrastructure, complete and upgrade storm shelters, fishing wharves, and type II fishing ports in Cua Viet, Cua Tung, Nhat Le, and Gianh. The third is to protect the environment and regenerate aquatic resources, synchronously deploy solutions for marine conservation, protection of coral reefs, breeding grounds, and spawning grounds. The fourth is to promote training and conversion of marine workers, focusing on training and transferring new techniques to fishermen, farming households, and commune-level technical staff; form a professional and skilled marine workforce. The fifth is to strengthen state management, perfect institutions, continue to review and advise the committee "We need to implement policy mechanisms to support and attract investment in fisheries activities; support fishermen when they face risks due to natural disasters and epidemics; support the application of science and technology in aquaculture, exploitation and processing of aquatic products," said Mr. Nguyen Huu Vinh.

From the achievements that have been made, Quang Tri has the basis to believe in the future of becoming a bright spot in Vietnam's marine economic development strategy. Fishermen continue to go offshore, businesses promote processing, cooperatives improve product quality - all together creating a new face for the local fisheries economy. With the desire for development, the Quang Tri fisheries industry not only brings livelihoods to tens of thousands of households but also affirms its important role in protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands, contributing to building the homeland into a dynamic, modern and sustainable marine economic center.

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Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202509/dong-luc-de-phat-trien-kinh-te-bien-176378c/