To develop sustainable fisheries sector in the Central Coast

In 2013, the fish production of the Central Coast reached nearly 776 thousand MT, representing 28 percent of the country's total fish production and showing the 1.2-fold increase from 2008. The achievements of fisheries sector have contributed to create jobs for local workers, reduce hunger and poverty, develop infrastructure and protect the country's sea and island sovereignty.

The Central Coast has potentiality in developing fisheries sector, particularly offshore fishing of tuna, mackerel. However, fish processing plants and services for fisheries sector in the region are limited.

At the seminar "To promote fisheries sector's sustainable development of the Central Coast held in the framework of Vietnam Seafood Festival 2014 in Phu Yen, participants believed that policies to support fishermen, especially assisting them building new vessels have not much supported for meeting current fishing activities. Therefore, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) needs to submit the Government measures to support fishermen so that they can access to loans with suitable interest rates to build new vessels.

Majority of fisheries logistic service centers in central provinces are currently overloaded and backward. MARD are asking for the Government's approval to set up 5 modern fisheries logistic service centers in the country. In the short term, MARD are calling for investment in building logistic service center in the central region. The logistic center will encompass shelter areas for boats, fish processing plants, trade services, training centers. The establishment of the logistic center will end fishermen's unscientific fishing activities in the past.

To develop sustainably fisheries industry in the Central Coast and the whole country, the linkage between fishermen and processors needs to be fostered to produce value-added products, increase the competiveness, meeting the market demands.