Multiple solutions put forth to develop fishing industry

Kien Giang’s offshore fishing vessels

Kien Giang province has the largest number of fishing vessels in Vietnam. Over the years, the fishing industry has contributed greatly to the local socio-economic development.

Last year, more than 1,000 of the total 9,800 local fishing vessels were docked at ports because of unprofitable fishing. In Ca Mau, statistics show that by October the province had caught more than 150,000 tons of fisheries, about 7,000 tons of which were shrimp, 21% lower than the previous year. The result is mainly attributed to the exhaustion of seafood sources.

The enforcement of the Fisheries Law and the prevention of illegal fishing to remove the EC’s "yellow card" have impacted fishing activities. In Ca Mau province, for example, fishing vessels of 15 meters or longer must be equipped with tracking devices.

To address these difficulties, fishermen in the Mekong Delta provinces have received support to reduce their fisheries costs and increase export product values.

Nguyen Huu Tuat of My Thuyen Company said his company has been financed by the Ca Mau Industry and Trade Promotion Center to invest in a Japanese squid drier and roller model.

At the processing workshop of My Thuyen Company (Photo: camau.gov.vn)

As a result, Tuat said, the company's dried squid product quality has improved, so have the design and production capacity, helping the company expand its export markets and gain greater profits.

“Dried cuttlefish products are in high demand so the company has invested in modern equipment to meet customer needs. We are expanding to markets in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and other Southeast Asian countries,” said Tuat.

Kien Giang’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the province is tightening regulations under the Fisheries Law and promulgating the regulations on fishing management and protection of local aquatic resources. The regulations will include the restructuring of fishing operation.

At a recent working session with the provincial administration, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said “In the long-term, we must restructure the fisheries sector. In the maritime strategy, we will focus on restructuring toward increasing aquaculture and reducing fishing exploitation. Coastal localities should increase the productivity of aquaculture.”