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.

Nearly 165 billion VND for fisheries restructuring in 2017-2020

As many as 164.8 billion VND (7.16 million USD) will be earmarked for technology transfer serving the restructuring of the fisheries sector during 2017-2020 under a scheme recently approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Of the figure, 81.3 billion VND (3.53 million USD) will be sourced by the State budget and the remaining will come from other sources.

The plan targets promoting technological transfer and application in aquaculture as well as in fishing and fish preservation on vessels in order to improve their output and quality.

Specifically, it will rally resources from individuals and organisations to develop a science-technology market serving the transfer of scientific and technological advances. At least 12 technological advances will be applied widely in the fisheries sector, with the aim of raising fishing efficiency by over 25 percent and reduce post-harvest loss by more than 20 percent; and improving output and the quality of farmed tra fish, shrimp in brackish water, mollusc, tilapia and lobster.

At least 40 demonstration models of technological application will be built in cooperatives while up to 1,500 individuals and organisations will receive technical training to adopt technology in catching and aquaculture.

Towards those goals, resources will be mobilized through scientific research programmes and schemes on fisheries encouragement and new rural development under the watch of the MARD.

Localities are asked to devise their own technological transfer and application plans.

The ministry will sign contracts with research establishments on developing desired technological products while reviewing effective production models and rearranging production in the fisheries sector.

Source: VNA


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