According to Soc Trang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first nine months of 2009, the aquaculture area in the province reaches 60,953ha, including 46,429ha for black tiger shrimp, 100ha for whiteleg shrimp, 158ha for Pangasius, 603ha for giant freshwater prawn, and 13,663ha for fish and other species.So far, local farmers have stocked 4.491 billion of juveniles.The fisheries production totaled 84,141MT, of which aquaculture output 54,085MT, a year-on-year increase of 41 percent; fish landings 30,096MT, including 26,327MT of marine catch, equal to 83.6 percent of the yearly plan.In the first nine months of the year, the aquaculture industry in Soc Trang enjoys favorable weather conditions. Although a small area of shrimp farming is hit by natural disasters, shrimp farmers hesitated to stock in large area due to investment shortage and worries about decreasing sales price of shrimp at harvest peaks.However, in fact, sales price of black tiger shrimp this year is relatively high, bringing good profits to farmers. (VietFishNews)