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.

Vietnam fisheries production up 6.2%

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the report of the Directorate of Fisheries, seafood production in the first 6 months of 2019 has developed quite well due to the increasing demand of the market.

Total fisheries production is estimated at 3.79 MT, up 6.2% compared to the same period in 2018, the production value of aquatic products increases by 6.5%. In which, the fishing output reached 1.88 million tons, up 5.4%; aquaculture production reached 1.92 million tons, up 7.0%.

Notably, in the first 6 months of 2019, the Directorate of Fisheries has actively implemented the application of good aquaculture practices and food safety control.

Up to now, 5,174 hectares of farming areas have been granted GAP certificates; in which the area of pangasius farming applied VietGAP was 1,847 ha, white leg shrimp area was 1,432 ha, other GAP application area (GlobalGAP, ASC, BAP) reached 1,894 ha.

In the last months of 2019, the fisheries sector has set a number of main objectives such as GDP growth rate will reach 4.65%; production value growth rate will hit 4.69%; export turnover will reach US$10.5 billion.