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.

Thanh Hoa targets sustainable offshore fishing development

The north central province of Thanh Hoa will scale down inshore fishing and invest more in high-capacity vessels for offshore fishing between now and 2025, under Vietnam’s fisheries development strategy and the local fisheries master plan.

Currently, Thanh Hoa is home to a large number of fishing vessels with an average capacity of more than 73 CV each, mostly in the coastal cities of Hoang Hoa, Quang Xuong, Tinh Gia and Sam Son township.

In order to improve the efficiency of fisheries exploitation, Thanh Hoa has directed applying sound navigation and ranging technology, the global positioning system (GPS), and the use of polyurethane in preservation, as well as providing training for captains of offshore fishing vessels and building a database on active fishing vessels, thus making it easier for the State management.

In compliance with the Government’s Decree 67, coastal localities have assisted fishermen in building and upgrading fishing vessels, and switching to the use of modern fishing equipment.

As of this March, the province caught 27.515 tonnes of seafood.

Tran Duc Cuong, deputy head of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Sub-Department of Fisheries Exploitation and Protection, said the provincial agricultural sector will continue encouraging fishermen to use modern technology to improve their fishing capacity and raising their awareness of fisheries exploitation in tandem with environment protection.

It is also scheduled to build fishing logistics facilities, storm-proof shelter areas, seaports, wholesale markets, and production models at sea, he said.

Source: VNA


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