Tra (pangasius) fish farming has been hit by a double whammy of COVID-19 and prolonged saltwater intrusion in rivers in the Mekong Delta region, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Vietnam’s tra fish (pangasius) industry has been urged to strongly improve its quality so as to compete with not only traditional rivals, but also its biggest tra fish importer – China.
A conference to launch a development plan for the tra fish sector was held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on February 18, attracting leaders of 10 regional cities and provinces that rely on tra fish farming.
Industry 4.0 technologies are critical to improving tra fish quality and value, according to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong.
Construction started on January 8 for Vietnam’s largest high-tech tra fish farming project in Binh Phu commune, Chau Phu district, in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang.
Positive signals in key Vietnamese markets for tra fish exports like China, the EU and the US, have pushed material and fillet prices to the highest level to date.
The export turnover of tra fish is forecast to hit 2.1 billion USD in 2018, up 22 percent against the previous year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is developing intensive tra fish farming in alluvial areas along rivers to produce high quality fish for export.
The Mekong Delta province of An Giang has expanded breading areas for material tra fish (pangasius) due to increasing export demand since the start of the year, said Chief of the Office of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Dac Mau.
Aquaculture output in the first 11 months of 2017 totalled more than 3.5 million tonnes, up 8 percent from the same time last year, as estimated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Vietnam’s aquaculture, fishery industry and seafood are on display at the seventh International Exhibition of Fishing and Aquaculture (SIPA 2017) which is underway in Oran, Algeria from November 9-12.
A stronger marketing strategy coupled with substantial improvement in tra fish quality is needed to bolster the export of the fish as rough seas are still ahead for this product, experts said.
The fisheries sector needs to clear barriers for tra fish in the US, the European Union (EU) and China, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam.
Vietnam’s fishery output in the first half of this year reached 1.6 million tonnes, up 4.8 percent against the same period last year and fulfilling 54.8 percent of the yearly target.
Mekong delta localities sought to achieve sustainable development for Tra fish farming in Vietnam at a conference in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang on June 23.
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