Synchronous development of the fisheries sector

Looking back at the half-term implementation of the Resolution of the 14th Provincial Party Congress, the marine economic sector, including the Fisheries sector, has made quite comprehensive progress. The average growth rate of the fisheries sector reached 5.13%/year, exceeding the target by 1.13%; the fisheries economy plays a key role with a structure accounting for 57% of the entire agricultural sector.

The Resolution of the 14th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025, sets the goal of synchronously developing exploitation and aquaculture of aquatic resources towards the sea, developing marine aquaculture associated with seafood processing; restructuring the seafood exploitation industry towards offshore fishing, effectively and sustainably, contributing to protecting national defense and security in the sea and islands of the Fatherland; building Ninh Thuan into a center for high-quality shrimp seed production in the country; investing in completing the infrastructure of concentrated seed production areas according to regulations. Organizing dredging of channels and anchorage areas at fishing ports, ensuring safety; implementing good fishing logistics services.

Seafood purchasing activities at My Tan Fishing Port, Thanh Hai Commune (Ninh Hai). Photo: Van Ny

To concretize the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress, the Provincial People's Committee has focused on directing investment in infrastructure serving the exploitation, farming and processing of aquatic products. Through the Sustainable Fisheries Development Program and the Regional Socio-Economic Development Program, the 2021-2023 period has invested in the Cai River Estuary Storm Shelter (Dong Hai, Phan Rang - Thap Cham City), Ca Na (Thuan Nam), upgrading My Tan Fishing Port (Ninh Hai), the TS Breeding Experimental Farm, and the project to build a fishing inspection ship with a total cost of more than 60.2 billion VND. To achieve the goal of building Ninh Thuan into a center for high-quality shrimp seed production in the country, the province prioritizes investment in completing the infrastructure of An Hai, Nhon Hai, and Son Hai TS seed production areas; promoting the application of science and technology, especially microbiological technology, genetic technology for selecting breeds, and water treatment technology to improve the quality of shrimp seeds. Building and developing forms of cooperation and association between small and medium enterprises in the production and consumption of shrimp seeds, ensuring the maintenance of brand reputation and competitiveness of the product "Ninh Thuan shrimp seeds".

Currently, the province has 27 shrimp seed production enterprises applying high technology; 100% of shrimp seed production facilities are certified to meet the conditions for producing and raising TS seed; 100% of facilities are monitored for disease safety, of which 12 facilities are certified for disease safety. Most members of the Ninh Thuan TS Seed Association use the "Ninh Thuan Shrimp Seed" certification mark on their labels to trace their origin, promote their brand and affirm their reputation in the market. Estimated shrimp seed output in 2023 is 40.838 billion post larvae, proactively providing part of the parent shrimp source in seed production according to market requirements.

The task of restructuring the offshore fishing industry towards offshore fishing has also achieved remarkable results. In the period of 2021-2023, the province has focused on adjusting the offshore fishing industry structure in accordance with the quota in Decision No. 1223/QD-BNN-TCTS of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; offshore and coastal areas according to the quota in Decision No. 2376/QD-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee in conjunction with implementing solutions to combat illegal fishing. Focus on implementing the "Regulations on organization and operation of the Offshore Fishing Solidarity Group combining economic activities with activities to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands in Ninh Thuan province". Instruct fishermen to organize production activities in offshore areas according to the model of the Sea Solidarity Group with 170 groups/810 vessels to save costs, improve operational efficiency and limit risks when operating in offshore areas; Connecting fishing ground forecast newsletters to Solidarity Groups during exploitation. Estimated exploitation output in 2023 is nearly 130,300 tons, exceeding the set target by more than 20,000 tons, production value in the period 2021-2023 increased by an average of 4.33%/year.

In the field of aquaculture, the remarkable result is that production has been reorganized in the direction of developing marine aquaculture, prioritizing deep water areas, applying high technology equipped with temperature and salinity sensors and automatic feeding machines. At the same time, gradually reducing the traditional farming object of shrimp to switch to high-economically effective specialty seafood objects such as: Snails, sea fish, lobsters, etc. Reorganizing aquaculture and cultivation of TS in Dam Nai area in the direction of gradually reducing density and scale to structure into a sustainable ecological farming area, popularly the model of ecological specialty seafood farming combined with planting mangrove forests along the Dam Nai dike. Up to now, there are 17 facilities raising snails in indoor tanks with a scale of 92.6 hectares; 5 facilities raising industrial shrimp in 2 stages in HDPE round tanks with roofs with a scale of 8 hectares and 4 HDPE round cages raising marine fish, a scale of 0.2 hectares. Thanks to the application of science and high technology, the value of production and aquaculture in the period 2021-2023 increased by an average of 2.38%/year.

Technical staff of Rang Dong Aquatic Seed Production Company Limited in Nhon Hai commune (Ninh Hai)

Checking the quality of the seed in the breeding tank. Photo: V.Ny

Currently, the province has 212 TS processing facilities certified to meet food safety conditions, including large enterprises such as Thong Thuan Seafood Company Limited, which has invested in an export shrimp processing factory in Thanh Hai Industrial Park (Phan Rang Thap Cham City). The company effectively utilizes the EVFTA Agreement to strongly export frozen shrimp to the EU and US markets, thereby striving to achieve an export turnover of over 120 million USD in 2023.

Continuing to implement the Resolution of the 14th Provincial Party Congress, in the remaining 2 years of the term, the Provincial People's Committee directs to focus on building Ninh Thuan into a center for high-quality shrimp seed production in the country; prioritize the development of high-tech industrial shrimp farming and advantageous subjects. Restructure the seafood exploitation industry, encourage investment in modern equipment for offshore fishing vessels associated with the development of sea service models, expand fishing grounds; reorganize in the direction of gradually reducing the exploitation intensity of coastal and offshore areas. Strive to reach more than 134 thousand tons of exploitation output by 2025, and shrimp seed production of more than 44 billion.

Mr. Tung

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