Fishery output exceeds 1 million tonnes in four months

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s fishery output in the first four months of this year exceeded 1 million tonnes, up 5.7 percent year-on-year thanks to favourable weather, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Of the total, the offshore catch’s output was 959,700 tonnes, a rise of 6 percent compared to the same period last year, while the output caught in inland rivers and lakes was 46,000 tonnes, a fall of 0.6 percent.

The MARD attributed the results to high seafood reserves, along with stable prices, smooth distribution and support policies employed by coastal localities.

The three south central provinces specialising in tuna fishing – Phu Yen, Binh Dinh and Khanh Hoa - caught 8,545 tonnes of tuna, up 6.4 percent year on year. Tuna prices at ports range between 90,000 VND and 115,000 VND per kilo.

According to the ministry, the aquaculture output in the first four months of 2017 reached 865,000 tonnes, up 2.1 percent year on year, including 335,300 tonnes of tra fish raised in the Mekong Delta region. At the same time, tra fish price is increasing due to high demand. 

Meanwhile, brackish tiger prawn production in Mekong Delta localities was estimated at 55,600 tonnes, up 3.4 percent year on year, along with 32,400 tonnes of white-leg shrimps