Dr Le Xuan Sinh from Hai Phong-based Institute of Marine Environment and Resources said that green economies helped improve living standards and social equality as well as reducing environmental risks and ecological deficiencies.
Sinh said that people living on islands often faced disadvantages in economic conditions, healthcare, education and other public services.
He said economic activities were usually spontaneous and did not follow any sustainable models. This resulted in poor quality of living standards or islanders were vulnerable to risks of natural disasters and diseases.
“The disadvantages are why there is migration to the mainland. Islands often cannot attract people to live there,” Sinh said.
“Once green economic models are implemented, islanders could better their livelihood and their resilience to climate-change impacts," Sinh said.
"Or at least, they could manage by themselves for a time if the islands are isolated because of natural disasters,” Sinh said.
He said that it was necessary to develop green economy models accompanied by green production and services. Environmental conservation and protection would also ensure bio-diversity in order to have sustainable development.
In addition, aquaculture production must use advanced environmentally friendly technologies while eco-tourism should be made a key industry.
For example, Viet Hai island commune on the east of Cat Hai island district, is the third largest island in Vietnam. There are 88 families or 270 people living on the island, but there is no market. Agricultural production is small and spontaneous, unable to provide enough food for islanders. Most of the food is from the mainland.
Sinh said that the island commune should concentrate on community tourism or home-stay accommodation to take advantage of its location in Cat Ba Nature Reserve. Organic agriculture was another option.
Meanwhile, he said Nhon Chau island commune in the central province of Binh Thuan should take advantages of its beautiful beaches. Eco tourism with sight seeing, diving and fishing would attract visitors. High-tech agriculture should be applied to provide enough food to islanders and visitors as 90 percent of soil on the island is unproductive.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam has more than 3,000 islands and islets with a total area of about 1,700 sq.km. Of those, three islands have more than 100 sq.km each, including Phu Quoc island in southern Kien Giang province, Cai Bau island in Quang Ninh province and
Cat Ba island in Hai Phong city. Twenty three islands have an area of 10 sq.km, 82 islands have 1 sq.km each. About 1,400 islets have not been named.
Groups of islands are said to have potential to become marine economic hubs and logistic centres for on-sea activities, including fishing or tourism. The islands together can create strategic areas to boost socio-economic development, ensure national defence and security.
Island economies could become “pillars for development” spreading development to surrounding areas. In addition to values of landscapes, the marine resources around the islands are crucial to fishing industry and sea tourism.
While more than 200 islands and islets in the country are said to be livable, just 66 have residential areas with populations in 2010 of about 240,000 people.
There are another 2,800 islands and islets unsuitable for human daily life or production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
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