Developmental needs, constraints, research focus and regional cooperation in fisheries in Vietnam

摘要

Vietnam has a long coastline of 3 260 km and EEZ of about 1 million km~2. The fisheries sector contributes 9 percent of the GDP and provides about 40 percent of the animal protein intake. Total fisheries production, being the third largest resource-producing sector after oil production and rice farming, was estimated at 1.6 million tons in 1997, 68.7 percent of which is from marine capture fishery and 31.3 percent from aquaculture. The export value of fisheries products in 1997 was estimated at US776 million dollar. About three million people are engaged in fisheries and related activities. The estimated total standing stock of marine fish in Vietnamese waters was estimated at about 4.1 million tons with a maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of 1.6 million tons per year. Among 2 000 recorded marine fish species, about 120 species are of commercial importance. Shrimp is the most important commercial species due to its high value, followed by scads, croakers, snappers, sardines, jack, tuna, grouper, lobster, scallop, crab, cuttlefish and squids. The aquaculture sub-sector has considerable potential to support increased production and supplies of fish and aquatic products. Approximately 1.4 million ha of total inland water area, 375 500 ha of brackishwater and 445 000 ha of marine waters have been reported to be suitable for aquaculture development, of which only a total of 600 000 ha has been exploited. The main species in brackishwater and marine aquaculture include tiger shrimp, other species of shrimp, mud crab, seabass, clams, tilapia and seaweed. Freshwater species include carps, catfish, soft-shelled turtle, frog and freshwater prawn.