Fish production in last seven months up 4.9 percent

In the first seven months of 2011, the catch landings expected to reach 1,476 thousand MT, up 4.7 percent on that of the first seven months of 2010, in which marine catch reached 1,380 thousand MT, and inland catch netted 96 thousand MT. Marine catch increased thanks to favourable weather conditions, bumper Southern fishing season, and high density of mahi mahi, anchovy, squid. Some ocean tuna fishing provinces including Phu Yen province reported high catch landings with 5,432 MT, up 12 percent on that of the same period last year. In the period, the aquaculture output rose remarkably to 303 thousand MT, bringing total aquaculture output in the first seven months of 2011 to 1,563 thousand MT, up 5.2 percent over the same period of 2010.

High fish price encouraged fishermen to go off-shore fishing. But fishermen still met some troubles due to high fuel price. Provinces reported the highest catch landings included Kien Giang 231,206 MT, Ba Ria-Vung Tau 158,534 MT, Ca Mau 94,860 MT, Binh Thuan 90,932 MT, Binh Dinh 79,134 MT, Quang Ngai 67,018 MT.