Vietnam will develop its aquaculture in an industrial, modern and sustainable way to meet international standards, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has said.

Speaking at the Asian – Pacific Aquaculture Conference, themed “Positioning for Profit”, on December 11 in Ho Chi Minh City, he said the Asia – Pacific is the largest aquaculture region in the world. In 2010, the output of its farmed products reached 53.1 million tonnes, accounting for 89 percent of the global sector’s total output, respectively.

Vietnam farmed 3.27 million tonnes in 2012, representing 55.2 percent of its total aquatic production, a year-on-year increase of 7.2 percent. It is the third largest aquaculture country in the region and among the top 10 exporters of aquatic products in the world, he added.

Nine Asian-Pacific nations, namely China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Japan, were listed in the top 10 countries with highest aquaculture output and value in 2010.

The region now consumes approximately 116 million tonnes of aquatic products per year. The figure is predicted to increase by 16 – 20 million tonnes annually by 2020 and 25 million tonnes each year by 2030.

During this period, the region will also promote aquaculture instead of catching to satisfy growing demand.

The conference, which opened on December 10, has been co-organised by the Vietnamese ministry and the Asian Pacific Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society. The 4-day event is set to include several symposiums.

A trade show is also to be held on the sideline of the conference, drawing 173 regional businesses to introduce their research outcomes, achievements and aquatic products.-VNA