Breeding marine fish in floating cages in Kien Giang Province’s Phu Quoc District. (Photo: VNA)Can Tho (VNS/VNA) – Fisheries output is expectedto reach 8.2 million tonnes this year, much higher than the target of 6.5 – 7million tonnes set under a 2016-20 sustainable seafood development programme,according to the Directorate of Fisheries.
The export value is expected to be 10 billion USD against atarget of 8- 9 billion USD.
The output last year was 8.15 million tonnes, 4.38 millionfrom aquaculture.
Yet the Government has invested only 14.5 trillion VND (626million USD) in the programme, or 29 percent of the amount earmarked, forbuilding fishing ports, storm shelters for fishing boats, seafood farmingareas, fish fry farms, and other infrastructure.
Speaking at a seminar to review the programme in Can Tho citythis week, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tiensaid the investment has been too low with the development of infrastructure notmeeting the requirement even as the country signs more and more internationaltrade agreements.
Aquaculture has huge potential and so the country needs toreduce its catch at sea and increase marine aquaculture to develop fisheriessustainably, he said.
He presented a draft strategy for seafoodproduction for the period up to 2030 to gather public opinion before submittingto the Government for approval.
It aims to expand the fisheries sector until it accounts for30 percent of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
It seeks to increase output to 10 million tonnes a year, 25 –30 percent from the sea and 70 – 75 percent from aquaculture.
It aims to increase exports to $18 - 20 billion a year andcreating 3.5 million jobs.
It requires all processors who export seafood to comply withfood safety and environmental protection requirements.
Luu Hoang Ly, director of the Bạc Liêu Province Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development, said the strategy should have a loanprogramme for developing seafood production and managing farms.
Besides, infrastructure should be created to serve shrimpfarming, he added.
Officials from the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, which accountsfor 70 percent of the country’s aquaculture output, said in recent years theinvestment in fisheries has been inadequate to fulfil the country’s potentialin aquaculture.
Zoning plans should regulate the number of fishing boatsallowed for each province, they said.
There should be zoning plans for local aquatic species thathave high export potential like eel, frog and giant river prawn, they said.
The strategy should help fishermen who work near shore switchto aquaculture or services, they added.
Nguyen Thanh Dung, vice chairman of the Can Tho city People’sCommittee, said aquaculture production and seafood processing in the delta andelsewhere face many difficulties and challenges like low technology, insufficientinfrastructure, lack of funding, climate change, pollution, and diseaseoutbreaks.
The strategy would play an important role in restructuringfisheries to increase value addition and achieve sustainability, ensuring thecountry integrates globally and catches up with other countries in science andtechnology, he said./.
VNA
