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.

Jan-Oct 2016: Vietnam capture output hit 2,558 thousand MT

15:16 11/25/2016

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Unfavorable weather had influenced on fishing activities of fishermen. However, this year a number of fish species appear more such as striped tuna, mahi mahi, flying fish, flying-squid and so on. Therefore, the capture output gained positive results. Of that, some species that achieved high yield were mackerel, tuna, mahi mahi, snapper, scad and anchovies.

In the first 10 months of 2016, Vietnam capture production estimated at 2,558 thousand MT, an increase of 2% compared to the same period last year. In which, marine catch hit 2,393 thousand MT, up 1.8% year on year ; inland catch amounted to 165 thousand MT, up 4.4% over the same period last year.

In the period, tuna production of 3 key provinces in the Central Vietnam reached 15,041 MT. Of that, the volume in Binh Dinh province was 7,666 MT, down 4.4%; that of Khanh Hoa province estimated at 3,512 MT, down 10%; and Phu Yen province with 3,863 MT, down 5.7% over the same period in 2015. At the end of tuna fishing season, despite unfavorable weather, there appeared more resources which facilitated tuna fishing activities. Also, tuna prices quoted quite high at VND105,000 – 115,000/kg, up VND10,000 - 15,000/kg after falls for long time.

Compiled by Dieu Thuy