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.

Kien Giang applies advanced technologies in large-scale shrimp farming

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang will promote the application of advanced technologies in shrimp farming on large scale under its master plan on shrimp development until 2025.

Accordingly, the province will shift 5,000 hectares of extensive culture of shrimp to industrial and semi-industrial shrimp farming by 2020, of which 4,700 hectares are in the Long Xuyen Quadruple and 300 hectares in U Minh Thuong.

Automatic water environment monitoring stations will be set up serving both aquaculture and environmental protection in this period.

The total area of brackish water shrimp farming is projected at 127,850 ha in 2020.

Meanwhile, the 2021-2025 period will see the formation of a high-tech shrimp industry along with the development of shrimp-rice farming model and large-scale extensive shrimp cultivation. Total shrimp farming area will be expanded to 129,450 ha.

Advanced technologies will continue to be applied on a large scale to reduce chemicals and antibiotics during the entire shrimp production. Besides, the shrimp industry will be developed into a complete value chain, helping increase added value of the local staple.

More than 20,000 hectares of rice cultivation in areas hit by saline intrusion during dry season in U Minh Thuong and Tu Giac Long Xuyen will be switched to shrimp-rice farming.

The province will invest heavily in technical infrastructure to improve breeding production.

Kien Giang earned 213 million USD from the export of aquatic products in 2018.

VNA