Aquaculture output scales up 8%

Aquaculture output in the first 11 months of 2017 totalled more than 3.5 million tonnes, up 8% from the same time last year, as estimated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Tra fish farming areas in the period expanded by 2% year on year to 5,822 hectares and total yield is expected at over 1.2 million tonnes. Large tra fish raising localities are Dong Thap with total output of nearly 436,000 tonnes, An Giang with 258,000 tonnes and Can Tho with 171,500 tonnes.

Shrimp output during January-November also picked up 9.9% from the same time last year to 636,000 tonnes thanks to good control of diseases.

Also in the period, seafood catches were 3 million tonnes, 4% higher than the corresponding period last year.

Fishing activities were hugely impacted by unfavourable weather conditions in November, the ministry said.

According to statistics, three central provinces of Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen caught 17,390 tonnes of tuna, with highest catch recorded in Binh Dinh province (9,700 tonnes).