(vasep.com.vn) Can Tho city is implementing the project on turning aquaculture sector into key economic sector in the orientation to export by 2020.

Viet Nam’s total seafood production in 2012 reached an estimated 5.74 million tonnes, a 5.1 per cent rise from last year, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Representatives from as many as 100 Cambodian and Vietnamese companies gathered in Phnom Penh to seek agricultural investment opportunities between the two countries.

According to the provincipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the local capture output is anticipated to reach 83 thousand MT in 2012, up 10.4 percent against that of 2011.

Authorities should discuss and select standards for Vietnamese pangasius to facilitate export activity... Vietnamese pangasius producers now have to comply with multiple sets of standards, including ASC, GlobalGap (Good Agriculture Practice) and BAP (Best Aquaculture Practice).

Phu Yen’s value-added processed puffer fish products are expected to turn over 400 MT in 2014

Deep-sea fisherman Le Men has launched his own 100-tonne mother ship equipped with the latest technology to look after 10 or more fishing boats on prolonged fishing trips.

Although the State Bank has instructed five commercial banks to provide loans to pig and seafood breeders at a low interest rate of 11 percent a year, several breeders are still borrowing at 15 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

A seminar to increase the managerial capacity of ocean tuna fishing was held in the central city of Da Nang on November 13.

The Tien Giang Province-based Hung Vuong Seafood Co has launched a support scheme for farmers to rescue the local pangasius industry that reached deadlock for the past several months.

The seafood export turnover of the province in October hit US$23 million, raising the 10-month value to US$250 million.

Farmers and seafood processors urgently need easy access to soft loans to tide over the difficulties facing them now, officials of the South West Steering Committee were told last Friday.

(vasep.com.vn) In 2012, land used in pangasius aquaculture totaled 1,679.03 hectares in Dong Thap province, said Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. To 5thNovember 2012, pangasius producers in the province have produced 331,791 MT of fish on an area of 902.04 hectares. Production of fingerlings reached 580.57 million of pieces. The province has currently 776.99 hectares in production and other 70.9 hectares taken out of operation.

High-value open-ocean, or pelagic, species like mackerel, scad, pomfret and tuna, have appeared in large numbers this year.