Due to expansion in
aquaculture acreage, shrimp output rose from
60,000 tonnes in 1999 to 160,000 tonnes last
year. This year's output is expected to be
193,000 tonnes.
This year the sector
focuses on raising the quality of bred shrimps
and promoting shrimp farming. Shrimp farming
is on the increase in central coastal
provinces, and is helping to improve farmers’
living conditions in these sandy areas.
Shrimp farms in the central
coastal provinces, such as Da Nang, Quang Nam,
Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Quang Binh and
Ha Tinh, make up a mere 3.4 percent (or 2,559
ha) of the country's total shrimp farming
acreage. Yet, their yearly output is a
remarkable at 21,000 tonnes with an average
yield of 10-12 tonnes per ha.
The rise of shrimp farming
in sandy areas started in central coastal Ninh
Thuan province in 2001, with 120 ha yielding
800 tonnes. Other methods of shrimp farming
are also showing promise, such as intensive
shrimp farming with an annual yield of 250-300
kg per ha.
Last year, the fisheries
sector recorded seafood output of 2.4 million
tonnes, including 976,000 tonnes of
aqua-products, to earn an export value of
US$2.02 billion. In particular, frozen shrimp
and "Tra" and "Basa" catfish fillets brought
the country US$979 million, and US$135
million, respectively.
This year, the sector plans to produce 2.49
million tonnes of seafood with an estimated
export value of US$2.2-2.3 billion.
