Schools of fish appear thickly at sea, fishermen are excited

According to the assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in April 2017, the weather was favorable for seafood exploitation activities, fishermen were excited when the output was high and the price was good.

Specifically, at the beginning of this year's Southern fishing season, schools of floating fish continuously appeared, with relatively high density and large reserves lasting for many days. In addition, seafood prices were stable and purchases were also rapid. At the same time, coastal provinces continued to implement policies to support aquaculture development according to Decree 67/2014/ND-CP; the number of offshore vessels increased, and fishermen proactively invested in offshore production and changed their occupations.

Fishermen in Quynh Long commune, Quynh Luu district are excited by the high seafood catch. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Estimated aquatic product output in the first four months of the year reached over 1 million tons, up 5.7% over the same period in 2016; of which, marine exploitation is estimated at 959,700 tons, up 6% over the same period last year. Inland exploitation is estimated at 46,000 tons, down 0.6% over the same period.

In the three provinces specializing in catching ocean tuna, the output in the first four months of the year was estimated at 8,545 tons of tuna, up 6.4% over the same period. Specifically, in Phu Yen, the output of tuna in the first four months was estimated at 2,059 tons, down 1.5% over the same period in 2016; Binh Dinh reached 4,796 tons, up 8%; in Khanh Hoa, the output of ocean tuna reached 1,690 tons, up 12.6% over the same period last year.

Currently, the price of tuna purchased at the port fluctuates at 90,000-115,000 VND/kg.

Also according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, aquaculture output in the first four months of the year reached 865,000 tons, an increase of 2.1% over the same period in 2016.

Specifically, the tra fish harvest in the first four months of the year in the Mekong Delta provinces is estimated at 335,300 tons, up 1.3% over the same period. The harvest in the provinces with the largest farming output also decreased compared to the same period last year, such as An Giang down 6%, Dong Thap down 5.4%.

Meanwhile, the demand for farming is increasing, and at the same time, unfavorable weather conditions have caused a large loss of fish fry, pushing up the price of fish fry. Currently, the price of pangasius fry ranges from 36,000 - 40,000 VND/kg (size 30 fish/kg), an increase of 10,000 - 12,000 VND compared to the end of 2016. With the production cost of 1 kg of fish fry being about 20,000 - 23,000 VND, farmers earn a profit of 20,000 - 23,000 VND/kg.

For brackish water shrimp, the northern provinces have basically completed stocking for the 2017 Spring-Summer crop. In the Mekong Delta provinces, the stocking area is still slow due to the slow arrival of salinity and the unfavorable environment, with prolonged intense heat.

However, brackish water shrimp farming in these provinces still has a good growth compared to the same period last year. Specifically, the area of ​​black tiger shrimp is estimated at 559,900 hectares, up 7.6%, the harvested output is estimated at 55,600 tons, up 3.4% compared to the same period in 2016; The area of ​​white-leg shrimp is estimated at 27,000 hectares, up 36.2%, the output is estimated at 32,400 tons, up 6%.

» Quynh Luu: Fishermen catch a lot of herring and silver carp

According to Thanh Trung/baotintuc