Vietnam plans to have 100 percent of shrimp and fish raised in the form of intensive culture and semi intensive culture by 2012. The plan was unveiled at a recently-ended seminar on building a national plan on sustainable development of Vietnam's aquaculture for 2010-2012, held by Vietnam's Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development.

1. Fisheries sector aims for stronger development

Participants in the seminar said that community-based production through cooperatives and breeding associations should be applied to minimise risks and protect the environment, with the aim of raising its aquaculture acreage to 890,000 ha with output of 3.6 million tonnes and export revenues worth US$5.5 billion in 2020.

At present, off-shore fishing technology and facilities remain modest and obsolete and there remain some shortcomings in applying biotechnology into aquaculture, they added.

Vietnam now has 15 fishing grounds with the depth of between 10 and 280m and 1 million ha of aquaculture with 70 percent of the acreage being in the Mekong delta that accounts for 90 percent of the nation’s export volume.

The fisheries sector generates 4 million jobs and exports products to 170 countries and territories. Its export turnover rose from US$1.5 billion in 2000 to US$4.2 billion in 2009 and is expected to reach US$4.5 billion this year.

To create seafood products’ prestige, the seminar laid stress on the strict management of food hygiene and safety, the application of bio-technology in producing breeds and building concentrated zones.

2. Vietnam plans for sustainable development of aquaculture

Vietnam plans to have 100 percent of shrimp and tra fish raised in the form of intensive culture and semi intensive culture by 2012. The plan was unveiled at a recently-ended seminar on building a national plan on sustainable development of Vietnam's aquaculture for 2010-2012, held by Vietnam's Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development.

According to the plan, about 70 percent of catch and raised fish provided to local seafood producers can be traced back their origins. Up to 80 percent of seafood processing units are capable of applying the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)- a systematic preventive approach to food safety and pharmaceutical safety – into their production.  Other measures to help the country's aquaculture industry include improving quality of input materials, building modern raising farms, and diversifying markets.