Fisheries sector counts on technology to boost exports
Ha Noi, Feb. 25 (VNA) -- Fisheries Minister Ta Quang Ngoc believes technology renewal and facility restructuring will help the sector earn USD 1.6 billion from export this year.
"The sector plans to net 2.17 million tonnes of sea product with shrimp-for-export amounting to 120,000 tonnes. More than one-third of the output will come from the aquaculture. Frozen seafood - chiefly shrimp and squids - will rise to 325,000 tonnes," he says.
Areas reserved for intensive aquafarming are to increase to 650,000-700,000 hectares and about 200 new vessels are to be built to increase the fishing fleets' capacity.
The minister emphasizes the need to further boost technological renewal and restructure coastal and off-shore fishing facilities to improve the sector's management efficiency and competitiveness.
In addition to spending VND 5,000 billion, about USD 344.8 million, on capital works, the sector will take further steps to ensure the strict application and monitoring of seafood safety and hygiene regulations at processing enterprises.
The sector will also work to further expand markets and strive to increase its market share in Japan and the United States. Shrimp and lobster will make up more than 50 percent of total export value.
In addition to conducting marine-resource surveys in the Tonkin Gulf, the Central Sea and Southwestern Sea, the sector is accelerating the upgrade of fishing and processing facilities nationwide in an effort to reduce after-catch losses.
It is seeking to provide 12 billion sea and brackish-water baby shrimp, eight billion fresh-water fry and another 90 million brackish-water fry to farmers nationwide by putting more unused land, including low-effective agricultural areas in the central coastal region and water surface under intensive fish farming.
Ngoc regards unplanned development, overfishing and aquatic-resource-unfriendly working mechanism as factors harmful to sustainable development. In his opinion, favourable conditions are Viet Nam's policy to encourage fisheries development with priority given off-shore fishing, fish farming and export-oriented development.--VNA
