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. The country produces annually over 6 million MT of fish, in which its landings reached 2.7 million MT and aquaculture reached 3.3 million MT. In 2021, total fisheries production reached 8.7 million MT, including 3.9 million tons from catching and 4.85 million tons from aquaculture.

Bumper catches make Tet doubly sweet for fishermen

Fishermen in the central region have seen bumper catches and big profits during Tet (the Lunar New Year).

In Khanh Hoa province, many boats that fished offshore during Tet have returned filled with fish.

Dao Phuoc Hung, who docked at the Hon Ro Fishing Port in Nha Trang city February 19, said he caught 10 tonnes of fish, mostly yellow tuna and mackerel, during a 12-day trip to Truong Sa (Spratly Islands).

Every man on the boat got an income of 10 million VND (440 USD), he said.

Fishes like tuna and mackerel fetch high prices during Tet, according to the Hon Ro Fishing Port Management Board.

Traders buy striped tuna at a price of 140,000 – 150,000 VND a kilogramme and mackerel at 300,000 – 320,000 VND.

On February 19, many fishing boats in Nha Trang returned to fish off-shore after Tet.

Phan Thanh Tong of Nha Trang said he decided to begin his fishing trip on the auspicious fourth day of the new year. “We will fish for about 20 days on this trip,” he said.

In Quang Binh province, fishermen who went on a one-day trip after Tet have also had good catches because of the favourable weather. 

Ho Van Sau of Duc Trach commune in Bo Trach district caught 70 kilogrammes of herring five nautical miles off the shore between 3am and 8am on February 18.

He earned a profit of nearly 4 million VND (170 USD) from the trip. “I am glad the first fishing trip after Tet saw a good catch”, he said.

Fresh herring is in great demand during Tet that traders were willing to pay 50,000 – 100,000 VND per kilogramme this year, 20-30 percent higher than on normal days, local fishermen said. 

In Quang Tri province, nearly 100 boats that fished around Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands during Tet returned with good catches.

They said they caught between 400 kilogrammes and one tonne of mostly mackerel and earned profits of 100-300 million VND from a trip lasting just a few days.

Elsewhere, fishermen who fished near shore in Vinh Thai commune in Quang Tri’s Vinh Linh district got bumper catches of cuttlefish after going fishing on the second day of the new year.

Ngo The Thanh, chairman of the Vinh Thai commune People’s Committee, said some resumed fishing on Tet though most began the day after.

This year most boats got good catches during their first trip, earning 1-3 million VND per night, he said.

Source: VNA