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. Vietnamese fisheries production increased steadily YoY. Aquaculture output tent to sharply rise while capture ouput tend to slow down. In 2023, aquaculture occupied 59%, fishing output occupied 41%. From 2018-2023, ratio of fishing output has decreased from 46% to 41% of total fishery production in Vietnam. In 2023, total aquaculture area was 5.408 million tons, up 3.5%; total fishing output was 3.861 million tons, equal to 2022.

Planning for 2,000 hectares of VietGAP pangasius farms

16:14 10/27/2014

(vasep.com.vn) According to Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dong Thap, the province made a plan, in which farms for pangasius under VietGAP standards in 2015 would be 1,500 hectares with production of 370,000 MT and in 2020, the farming area would 2,000 hectares with production of 500,000 MT.

Commercial pangasius farming areas in Dong Thap are located along Tien river, in Thanh Binh District, Chau Thanh , Hong Ngu, Cao Lanh, Lap Vo, Lai Vung districts, Hong Ngu town, Sa Dec city and Cao Lanh city.

Farming areas in Tam Nong and Tan Hong district would remain stable with VietGAP applied ones.

The whole farming area in the Mekong Delta, as planned, would be 5,300 to 5,400 hectares, yielding 1.25 to 1.3 million MT with export turnover to reach US$ 2 - 2.3 billion. In 2020, this area will be expanded to 7,600-7,800 hectares.