Fisheries sector in Vietnam's economy
Ha Noi, Apr. 18 (VNA) -- The fisheries sector netted nearly 500,000 tonnes of aquatic products in the first quarter of this year, earning USD 289 million or a 36 percent year-on-year increase, according to the Ministry of Fisheries.
Of the netting volume, the natural catch output was more than 328,000 tonnes and aquaculture output was almost 168,000 tonnes.
The sector is striving to catch 2.1 million tonnes of aquatic products and post an export value of USD 1.6 billion. These compare to 2 million tonnes caught and more than more than USD 1.47 billion earned from exports in 2000.
The earnings were achieved despite the devastating floods in the Mekong delta and heavy storms in the central and Central Highlands. The good performance also made the fisheries sector Viet Nam's major export earner after crude oil and textile and garment.
Part of the success stems from the off-shore fishing programme, 1,345 vessels were either built or repaired, taking the fleet to 76,000 with a combined capacity of more than 3 million HP. This deep water fleet caught 241,000 tonnes of sea produce, or 40 percent of the fish and shrimp taken from the sea and rivers. The export of 36,400 tonnes of the off-shore catch earned the sector USD 72 million.
Approved investment in aquaculture, through a way to help coastal people eliminate hunger and alleviate poverty, was as much as VND 1,130 billion, about USD 77.9 million, for more than 100 projects. These projects have put more than 64,000 hectares under aquatic farming, creating about 130,000 jobs.
The introduction of advanced technology also helped improve aquaculture quality with about 650,000 hectares yielding about 800,000 tonnes of produce. The harvest of black shrimp - the most favoured for farming - was reportedly good throughout the country last year and its return accounted for 52 percent of the sector's total export turnover in 2000.
By the end of 2000, 60 processors are applying the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and 40 are listed among those meeting the requirements necessary for export to the European Union.
Viet Nam's seafood has been exported to more than 60 countries and territories with Japan, the biggest buyer. By November last year, Japanese companies had imported USD 388.5 million worth of seafood, or 33.6 percent of the sector's total exports.
Exports to the U.S. totalled USD 262.6 million in 2000 - an increase of 250 percent against 1999. Other major importers were China and Hong Kong.
The sector plans to earn USD 2.5 billion in 2005 and USD 3 billion in 2010. These targets are to reach as Viet Nam has more than 3,200 km of coast line, 112 river estuaries, an exclusive economic zone of more than 1 million sq. km and more than 4,000 islands of different sizes. In addition, the country has about 1.4 million ha of inland water surface and 800,000 ha of natural straits, swamps and bays suitable for aquaculture.--VNA
