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.

Phu Quoc Island gets into it's anchovy act

Fishermen and seasonal workers are working hard making a seafood product that Phu Quoc is particularly famous for: dried anchovy.

Apart from its beautiful beaches and forests, Phu Quoc in southern Vietnam's Kien Giang Province has long been famous for its signature fish sauce, with the anchovy caught off the island being the main raw material. Sun-dried anchovies are another popular seafood product from Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island.
After offshore fishing vessels return to the coast, small boats belonging to anchovy fish merchants transport anchovy-laden baskets to the workplace.
There are numerous shops that make dried anchovy on Phu Quoc, especially in Duong Dong Ward and the communes of Ganh Giau and An Thoi.

Phu Quoc Island gets into its anchovy act

Nguyen Ngoc Hien, the 46-year-old owner of a fish shop in the Dat Do area in An Thoi Commune, said that calm waters this time of the year has ensured a bountiful catch. "Some days we even take in 20 tons of fresh fish, which would require 50 to 60 people to work nonstop, including night shifts, to transport and process."
Several shop owners on the island help fishermen purchase their boats to get priority in receiving the anchovy catch. Other species of fish caught are distributed to wholesalers in the market.

Since it takes anywhere between a week and a month for an offshore fishing trip, anchovies are put on ice to be stored in the hull. As fishermen use sonar devices to locate the fish, they almost never return empty-handed.

The windy and sunny weather on Phu Quoc Island during the dry season is ideal for sun-drying the fish, and these trays are put out early in the morning.
While anchovies are caught throughout the year, the dry season in Phu Quoc is from October to March, when they can be sun-dried. During the rainy season, drying chambers are used.

Original link:

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/phu-quoc-island-gets-into-its-anchovy-act-4222278.html


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