According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), total production is forecasted at 223,000 tonnes, up 2.8%; while aquaculture output is also up by 1.8% to 186,000 tonnes.
A representative from the Directorate of Fisheries under the MARD said that fishermen in northern localities on their fishing season enlist to offshore operation, generating in a considerable output.
Local fishermen are encouraged to team up for offshore fishing and focus on catching high-value fish such as tuna, scad, squid, and shrimp, while increasing investment in boats to increase offshore capacity.
In particular, for tuna fishing, some provinces have seen significant increase in the total of produce caught, including Khanh Hoa with 450 tonnes, up 7.1%; Binh Dinh 240 tonnes, up 4.3%; and Phu Yen estimated at 550 tonnes, equivalent to the same period last year.
Aquaculture output in January also rose, estimated to reach 186,000 tonnes nationwide, up 1.8% year-on-year.
Accordingly, the farming area of tra in the Mekong Delta in January is estimated at 2,100 hectares, up 0.8% compared to the same period of last year with an estimated production of 24,000 tonnes, up 10.5%.
Several provinces like Tien Giang, Ben Tre, and Vinh Long have seen an increase in both acreage and yields, of which Ben Tre recorded the largest production area with an increase of 15% compared to the same period in 2014.
