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.

Hue to spend $52m on agriculture

Authorities of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue is directing their resources on implementing 12 priority projects worth nearly VND1.2 trillion (US$52 million) to accelerate the agricultural restructuring process by 2020.

It includes the upgrading of a storm-proof wharf and expansion of Thuan An fishing port, construction of infrastructure for aquaculture in Phong Hai Commune of Phong Dien District, investment in facilities for shrimp breeding in Phu Vang District’s Phu Xuan Commune and Phu Loc District’s Vinh Hung Commune, as well as other coastal forest and lagoon development projects.

Also, topmost on the agenda of the province is a project to enhance food safety management and build a food safety production and trade chain for the period between 2016 and 2020. Other projects include the improvement of Thanh Tra grapefruit output and quality, large-scale fields for rice, groundnut and vegetables, and setting up pig and cow farms.

It is aiming for a sustainable agriculture in combination with new rural development and environment protection.

The priority fields for restructuring include cultivation, animal husbandry, forestry, fisheries, and irrigation, as well as the processing industry and key agricultural commodities.

Specifically, in cultivation, about 3,300ha of rice growing areas in the mountainous, coastal and water-scarce areas will be used to grow corn, groundnut, vegetables, flowers and aquaculture.

By 2020, the forest area will reach 293,250ha, including 122,100ha of commercial forests.

Meanwhile, around 900ha will be used for shrimp breeding on sand for export, with a capacity of about 13,500 tonnes.

The proportion of offshore fishing vessels with a capacity of at least 90CV will be increased from the current 15 per cent to 30 per cent by 2020, so that the offshore seafood output would account for over 70 per cent of the total output.

Thua-Thien Hue is targeting an agriculture growth of over 3.5 per cent, with seed and fisheries outputs of 310,000 tonnes to 320,000 tonnes and 73,000 tonnes per year, respectively, and doubling the income of rural families by 2020.

Source: VNS


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