Kien Giang Fisheries Sector Continues Diversifying Production Structure

Last year, the fish farming sector in southern Kien Giang Province harvested great successes thanks to favourable weather conditions and high selling prices. However, the fishery sector also encountered numerous difficulties in raising fish uch as soaring fuel prices, weak seagoing security and US dumping case against the Vietnamese shrimp-rearing industry. To promoting successes and overcoming difficulties, the fisheries sector of Kien Giang Province has concentrated efforts on expanding shrimp farming areas. As a result, both the area and output soared.

 

In 2004, total aquatic production output exceeded 321,000 metric tonnes, an increase of 48 per cent against a year earlier. The fish farming value was up 45 per cent on year and contributed to the 21 per cent growth of the entire fishery sector. The exportation of aquatic products brought in US$82 million in the year, up 26 per cent on year. The effective use of the infrastructure for the fishery, especially the operational Tac Cau fishing port, attracted non-State economic sectors into aquatic product processing and farming industries. Of the 19 projects invested in Tac Cau Port, seven projects are underway. Fishery protection and fish farming expansion encouragement also helped the development of the fishery sector. Last year, the Aquaculture Encouragement Centre organised 175 drilling courses on aquaculture techniques for more than 5,500 farmers, implemented investment modes and transferred technologies to farmers. Eight methods of tiger prawn culture in combination with paddy rice farming were introduced. In addition, each year, Kien Giang Province builds an additional 200-300 new offshore fishing boats. In 2004 alone, the province had 276 new fishing boats with an individual engine capacity of 355 CV. The offshore fishing industry is on the rise in Kien Giang.

 

In 2005, the fishery sector of Kien Giang focused on expanding the aquaculture industry, especially intensive tiger prawn farming in new areas. In order to achieve set targets, the fish farming industry introduced several measures such as training farming techniques. The province also introduced high yield species such as tra fish and tilapia to farmers. In addition, Kien Giang improved operations of fishing encouragement centres and aquatic quarantine stations, and examined and amended the irrigation system for shrimp farming in Long Xuyen region and Ca Mau peninsula. The province has also continued investments in irrigation, electricity and transport systems in new fishing regions. Kien Giang is dedicated to carrying out the Government’s programme to develop fish stocks.

 

In the short term, the fisheries sector will continue to allow fishermen to build new offshore fishing boats and encourage the search for new fishing grounds. In the meantime, the province will also tighten control over fishing boats, especially small-sized ones, in order to improve safety standards. In addition, the Kieng Giang Provincial Department of Fisheries has also cooperated with the Ministry of Fisheries to conduct surveys on fish reserves in order to provide plans to develop the fishing boat fleet and fishing sector in the 2006-2010 period.