The output of saltwater fish in 2016 nearly doubled that of 2010, reaching 28,300 tons.
Dung said Vietnam has been one of the world’s leading countries in sea-culture since 2012 and its seafood exports have increased in recent years.
However, to reach the said-above figures, the government needs to adopt policies to encourage investment in sea-culture, he added.
Nguyen Ba Son, a representative from the Directorate of Fisheries, said by the end of 2016, the country had 6,300 hectares of ponds and nearly 1.2 million cubic meters of cages to raise saltwater fish.
The output of saltwater fish in 2016 nearly doubled that of 2010, reaching 28,300 tons. Key fish farming provinces include Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Kien Giang, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Experts advised State management agencies and businesses to clearly define consumption markets to avoid massive development before pouring investment in the field.
Lucas Manomaitis, Technical Director for Aquaculture in Southeast Asia of the US Soybean Export Council, said most of fish resources in the region, including Vietnam, are being over-exploited, resulting in a decline in the supply of sea fish.
To prepare for the development of the sea fish farming sector, State management agencies and farmers should study the demand of international customers and improve product quality, he noted.
The VSA suggested improving policies to attract investment and support the sector’s sustainable development, while implementing programs to inspect and rehabilitate the marine ecological environment.
Source: VNA