MEKONG DELTA — Fish farmers in the Cuu Long (
To meet the increasing demand for the tasty treat, farmers are using a new website called Wikimapia to find the best places to breed catfish in the Tien and
The website, owned by the same company that runs the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, has a wealth of aerial photographs and satellite images from around the world, including
Farmers say the images give them a better idea of where catfish are likely to mature best.
"This website allows me to see the whole area. I can figure out which land is suitable for fish breeding," says Nguyen Van Hoa.
The "land hunters", a name that’s beginning to catch on for these innovative fishers, have focused their efforts where the two rivers cross into Can Tho and
"These are perfect spots to breed fish because the area has strong currents to oxygenate the waters and a stable eco-system devoid of pollutants," he says.
"Just by clicking the mouse, I learn the pros and cons of each region. The only thing I have to worry about is the price of the land!" says Hoa.
With the help of his partners, Hoa has also bought 10ha of land in
Last year, fish breeders almost doubled their profits when the price of catfish reached VND15,000 (US$0.93) per kilogram.
The price jumped again in early 2007 to VND17,000 per kilogram, VND7,000 ($0.43) more than it costs to breed the lucrative fish.
Fish farmers in the area say they can now afford luxuries like cars and boats.
Land locked
But as the value of catfish rises, so too does that of the land where farmers set up shop.
In Tan Loc, another prime breeding location, 1,000 sq.m of land can cost upwards of VND280 million (US$17,000), depending on the soil and how good the fishing is.
Le Thi The, a catfish cultivator who made tens of billions of dong exporting seafood last year, says she’s seen land in Tan Loc become much more expensive.
The price for 1,000 sq.m of land went from VND50 million ($3,125) to VND200 million ($12,500) in just three years, she says.
The cost balances out because 10,000 sq.m of fishing land is worth anything from VND700 million (US$43,750) to VND1 billion (US$62,500), says The.
Many farmers haven’t balked at the steep prices because they can recover their money within a year, she says. Producing the fish costs around VND14,000 ($0.87) with the added expense of purchasing land.
Le Van Thanh, a cultivator from Binh Minh District, says there may not be enough land to meet farmers’ needs if the price stays between VND180 million ($11,250) to 200 million.
According to Vietnam Customs, the export of value-added pangasius in the first eight months of 2024 has been evaluated as quite positive, with continuous growth in many major markets such as the United States, CPTPP, and the Netherlands...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Department of Fisheries of Ca Mau province coordinated with the School of Fisheries under Can Tho University to organize training courses on high-tech shrimp farming for 120 people in processors, cooperatives and families that are raising intensive and super-intensive shrimp in the province.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Soc Trang province plans to expand its shrimp farming area from over 50,000 hectares to 57,000 hectares by 2025, aiming for a production of 233,800 tons and maintaining a $1 billion export value. The project will establish 45 climate-resilient shrimp farming models and ensure all farms meet aquaculture standards for traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In July 2024, Vietnam's fish cake and surimi exports declined. The export value reached just over 24 million USD, down 3% over the same period. In the first 7 months of 2024, the cumulative export of this product group reached 152 million USD, down 13%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Dong Thap is a key region for pangasius farming, boasting the largest production in the Mekong Delta. In the first seven months of 2024, the estimated aquaculture area reached 4,778 hectares, with a harvest yield of 307,336 tons. Of this, the intensive pangasius farming area covered 2,042 hectares, with a harvest of 252,670 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs, in the first half of August 2024, Vietnam's pangasius exports to the EU reached nearly 8 million USD, up 57% over the same period. Cumulative pangasius exports to this market as of August 15, 2024, reached 107 million USD, up 0.5% over the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Board of Directors of International Development & Investment Corporation (IDI) is confident of completing this year's profit plan in the context of gradually recovering demand for pangasius in China and Mexico.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Some farmers in Soc Trang province have successfully applied a balanced biological shrimp farming technique, which eliminates the use of chemicals to minimize environmental impacts. This is a model of farming that adapts to climate change.
8 finalists have been named in the best new seafood product competition to be awarded at Seafood Expo Asia, taking place 4 to 6 September at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn