GENERAL INFORMATION

Vietnam, with a coastline of over 3,260 kilometers (km) and more than 3,000 islands and islets scattered offshore, plus up to 2,860 rivers and estuaries, has been geographically endowed with ideal conditions for the thriving fishery sector which currently exists.

Great potential of fishery sector in Vietnam is embedded in water bodies of 1.700.000 ha in which 811.700 ha freshwater, 635.400 ha brackish waters and 125.700 ha coves and 300.000 - 400.000 ha wetland areas might be employed for aquaculture development.

The Mekong River Delta in the south and the Red River Delta in the north have been used for wild catch fishing as well as extensive fish farming.

Shrimp and pangasius mostly farmed in the Mekong River Delta, in which, shrimp farmes located in coastal provinces such as Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Ben Tre..

Pangasius farming is developing in many provinces in Mekong River Delta such as Can Tho, Vinh Long, Tien Giang, An Giang, Dong Thap, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Tra Vinh....

Production in the fishery sector grew at an average rate of 7.05% from 1991 to 2000, and 10% from 2001 to now. Vietnamese fisheries production increased steadily YoY. Aquaculture output tent to sharply rise while capture ouput tend to slow down. In 2023, aquaculture occupied 59%, fishing output occupied 41%. From 2018-2023, ratio of fishing output has decreased from 46% to 41% of total fishery production in Vietnam. In 2023, total aquaculture area was 5.408 million tons, up 3.5%; total fishing output was 3.861 million tons, equal to 2022.

Bac Lieu earns US$288 million from seafood exports

The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu earned US$288 million from seafood exports in the first eight months of 2016, fulfilling 55 percent of its yearly target, but dropping nearly 5 percent compared to the same period last year.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, despite the fall in exports, the locality’s seafood production has remained stable.

Currently, the price of material seafood for processing is rising as some traders have bought and exported raw materials, which affected small businesses. However, larger enterprises have managed to collect between 650-900 MT of seafood materials per week for processing to ensure their operation.

Meanwhile, the local power sector has pledged to ensure their supply in the rest of the year, while banks also vowed to provide capital for businesses to expand their production, according to the department.

At the same time, management agencies of Bac Lieu have made great efforts to update local exporters with market developments and give them advices on how to adjust their production.

Local seafood processors and exporters have applied measures to implement their commitments on enhancing their products’ quality, the department added.

Source: VNA


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