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. The country produces annually over 6 million MT of fish, in which its landings reached 2.7 million MT and aquaculture reached 3.3 million MT. In 2021, total fisheries production reached 8.7 million MT, including 3.9 million tons from catching and 4.85 million tons from aquaculture.

Fishery production reached 6.7 million MT

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to report of The General Statistics Office, Vietnam's seafood production in October 2019 was estimated at 733.8 thousand MT, up 5.4% over the same period in 2018; accumulation in 10 months was estimated at 6,698.7 thousand MT, up 5.4%; in which, aquaculture reached 3.5 million MT, capture fisheries touched 3.1 million MT.

Specifically, production of shrimp and pangasius in the past 10 months also recorded positive growth. In October, pangasius farming continued to achieve good results, with an estimated production of 142.3 thousand MT, up 7.3% over the same period in 2018; in which, Dong Thap reached 44.8 thousand MT, up 4.9%; An Giang hit 43.2 thousand MT, up 12.4%; Can Tho touched 15.3 thousand MT, up 11.3%.

For brackish water shrimp, the weather in October was favorable for the development of farmed shrimp, whiteleg shrimp reached high yields and had stable prices, while black tiger shrimp continued the downward trend. Production of white leg shrimp in October was estimated at 67.6 thousand MT, up 17.6%; of which, Ca Mau reached 9.3 thousand MT, up 19.2%; Soc Trang's production was 26.5 thousand MT, up 37.6%; Ben Tre achieved 9.1 thousand MT, up 12.9%. Production of black tiger shrimp in October was estimated at 22.2 thousand MT, down 4.1%.

Fishing output reached 306.4 thousand MT in October 2019, up 3.6%, of which fish production reached 236.3 thousand MT; an increase of 4.1%; shrimp hit 12.7 thousand MT, down 0.8%; other aquatic products touched 57.4 thousand MT, up 2.5%.