Drying anchovies at a fish processing facility in Ca Mau (Source: VNA)
Ca Mau (VNA) – The southernmost province of Ca Mau over the next five years plans to raise the incomes of workers at craft villages that make fishing nets, repair fishing boats, and produce dried sea shrimp and fish.
Expansion of fishing logistics services and ice production is also part of the plan for the coastal craft villages, according to a report in Tin Tuc (News) newspaper.
From now to 2017, Ca Mau will focus on weaving and repairing of fishing nets and other fishing tools, an activity that has been part of the area for hundreds of years.
However, the work has always operated on a small-scale without any overall plan.
The 2,500 people who knit and repair fishing nets and tools have low incomes, under an average of 3 million VND (136 USD) a month.
Ca Mau also has more than 50 establishments that make various kinds of dried sea shrimp and fish and provide jobs for 1,200 labourers.
Under the 2016-2021 plan, the province aims to increase the number of workers who make dried sea shrimp and fish to 3,000 by the end of 2017.
By then, the average income of workers is expected to reach 4 million VND (180 USD).
In 2017, the province will set up two co-operatives for dried shrimp and fish producers.
Ca Mau has several well-known dried shrimp and fish products, including Rach Goc dried shrimp, dried cream fish and dried anchovies.
Rach Goc dried shrimp was granted an official brand name by the National Office of Intellectual Property.
The Rach Goc Dried Shrimp Village in Ngoc Hien District produces dried shrimp from sea and fresh-water shrimp. The district has about 25 establishments that produce 25-30 tonnes of dried shrimp a month.
The establishments, which consume about 20 percent of the district’s shrimp output, provide jobs for about 250 labourers.
In Tran Van Thoi, U Minh and Phu Tan districts, about 300 families make dried cream fish.
The price of dried cream fish is 200,000-250,000 VND a kilo. Producers earn profits of 20,000-25,000 VND a kilo.-VNA
