Fisheries sector 's plan in next five years


Ha Noi, March 24 (VNA) -- The fisheries sector is trying for 2.45 million tonnes of aquatic produce and export turnover of USD 2.5 billion in the next five years.

Of the output, 1.4 million tonnes will come from the natural catch and the rest from aquaculture.

The sector intends mobilizing VND 5,038 billion, about USD 359 million, for its aquatic produce exploitation programmes between now and 2005.

Further, it will build new fishing ports and wharfs, open new markets, shrimp-breeding regions and national sea-produce breeding centres; establish three environmental observatories in southern Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Ca Mau provinces as well as upgrade seafood processing establishments.

This year, the sector plans to invest more than VND 5,000 billion, USD 357 million, to achieve aquatic produce output of 2.17 million tonnes and export revenue of USD 1.6 billion. The figures represent year-on-year increases of 166,000 tonnes and about USD 200 million.

It will also finish building eight fishing ports within this year followed by 12 others from northern Hai Phong to southern Ca Mau provinces. Coastal provinces will establish a fleet of about 200 trawlers with preferential loans from the State.

Local fisheries sectors plan to put more than 340,000 ha of fresh water and 300,000 ha of brackish and salt water under shrimp and fish cultivation, including 228,000 ha for black-shrimp and 45,000 cages for fish raising.

The resulting network of more than 2,600 shrimp and 350 fish-fry nurseries are expected to supply more than 12.5 billion shrimp for domestic aquatic produce raising establishments.

The sector will also invest in upgrading and building more fish and shrimp-feed processing factories so as to raise their capacity from 60,000 tonnes to 80,000 tonnes this year with 50,000 tonnes for black-shrimp.

More investment from the sector and localities will enable an additional 35 percent of the country's seafood-processing establishments to apply international food hygiene standards this year.

Seventy-seven seafood-processing enterprises send their produce to Europe and North America while Viet Nam's aquatic products are available in 58 countries and territories.--VNA