(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Mr. Phan Thanh Sang - Head of the Import-Export Management Department, Ca Mau Industry and Trade Department said that in the first two months of 2018, the seafood export turnover in the locality was estimated at US$121.38 million, up 15% over the same period last year, which showed the highest growth compared to other sectors. The fisheries sector is expected to contribute much to the economic growth of the province.
Currently, stocking households have early entered the first batch of harvest. According to farmers, the situation of farming this year is basically more favorable than the same period last year. The salinity is not too high and the weather is not too harsh, so some households have achieved good results. In addition, there is a shortage of raw shrimp supply, so shrimp prices remain high, which is a good sign for shrimp farmers.
Promote to expand markets
Mr. Chau Cong Bang, Deputy Director of Ca Mau province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said Ca Mau province had the largest aquaculture area in the country, with over 302,861 ha, accounting for 27.9% of the country’s area and 39% of the Mekong Delta’s. Annual production reaches 321,000 MT; Ca Mau shrimp is present in 60 countries and territories. At present, the province is promoting trade activities for seeking partners, expanding export markets to Western European countries and aiming at the potential market - India.
At present, the area of industrial shrimp farming is 9,664 ha. Of that, the area of super-intensive shrimp farming increased rapidly with nearly 1,000 hectares and the productivity reached 80-100 MT/ha/crop, contributing significantly to the export turnover of the province.
According to Mr. Tang Thai Xuyen, Director of MINH PHU MANGROVES, under Minh Phu Seafood Corp., to hit the turnover of US$1.1 billion by 2018, the fisheries sector needs to plan development of shrimp farming in a suitable way; change the structure and apply science and technology to bring about sustainable effect. In addition, it is necessary to speed up the application of science and technology, to ensure high quality seed, reduce costs, control disease and food safety as well as strengthen the international cooperation, remove technical barriers so that the fishery products of Vietnam in general and Ca Mau in particular can penetrate deeper and broader into the international market.