Freshwater fish output of the southernmost province of Ca Mau isforecast to stand between 20,000-22,000 tonnes in 2015, falling by10,000 tonnes from last year, a local official said.
Such adecline is attributable to fewer rainfall and storms that triggered alack of sufficient water for the growth of freshwater fish stocks, ashortage of fries supply, and the pre-season fishing.
Nguyen VanTranh, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture andRural Development, said the sharp fall will affect the income ofthousands of local farmers and drive up fish prices, especially in theprior Tet (Lunar New Year Holiday) period when purchasing power usuallysoars.
Freshwater fish prices have hiked up, said Nguyen ThiPhuoc, a fish trader at Ca Mau market. Prices of snakehead fish rosefrom 80,000 VND to 120,000 VND per kg while that of tilapia alsoincreased to 150,000 VND per kg from 120,000 VND.
Beingsurrounded by sea on three sides, fishing is an important industry in CaMau province. However, fish farming has also been thriving in thelocality. The southernmost province is part of the Mekong Delta keyeconomic region, which also comprises Kien Giang and An Giang provincesand Can Tho City.-VNA
