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.

Kien Giang focuses on shrimp farming in 2019

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang strives to yield 21,500 tonnes of shrimp on a site of 3,100ha in Long Xuyen Quadrangle and U Minh Thuong in 2019.

Since early this year, local households have bred about 150ha of white-legged shrimp.

In order to ensure safe and sustainable shrimp farming, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development worked with agencies concerned to monitor and offer environment warnings, control epidemics and adopt modern technology to raise shrimp up to VietGAP standards.

Several firms have registered to raise shrimp on a total area of over 1,000ha with an estimated output of 17,700 tonnes and more.

Last year, the province raised shrimp, mostly white-legged shrimp, on 2,590ha in Long Xuyen Quadrangle and U Minh Thuong, accounting for nearly 95 percent of the total area. The output of white-legged shrimp was over 18,100 tonnes out of the total 18,500 tonnes.

Do Minh Nhut, Deputy Director of the department, said shrimp farming on industrial and semi-industrial scales in Kien Giang remains slow compared to the set target, mostly due to the lack of clean water supply and skilled workforce, unstable shrimp prices, and insufficient capital for technological adoption.

VNA


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