Vietnam exported around US$1.8 billion worth of seafood in the first six months of 2008, fulfilling 43 per cent of the year target, and marking an on year rise of nearly 14 per cent, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
The VASEP said the seafood industry&rsquos target at US$4.2 billion in revenues this year is unfeasible because it is facing with difficulties in getting loan to buy fish from farmers.
Meanwhile, local farmers find hard to sell their fish for reasonable prices, with some 120,000 tons of oversized pangasius are unmarke, and many others have been hit hard by increased fuel prices.
According to report by General Statistics Office, Vietnam&rsquos total aquatic output reached 2.124 tons, up 11.1 per cent on year, including 1.045 million tons from aquaculture farms, up 25.9 per cent and 1.078 million tons from fishing vessels, down 0.3 per cent.
In the first half of this year, aquaculture farms in the country produced 837,700 tons of fish, up 30.4 per cent and 125,700 tons of shrimp, up 3.6 per cent.
High prices of catfish and other aquatic products late last year encouraged Mekong Delta farmers to expand farming areas by 20.6 per cent in An Giang, 22.1 per cent in Can Tho, 13.2 per cent in Vinh Long, and five times in Ben Tre.
Meanwhile, hundreds of fishing ships in the region are idle as they wade through cumbersome procedures to qualify for Government support. The Government recently offered financial help to fishermen hurt by rising petrol costs, but complex regulations are hindering progress. (Vasep)
Vietnamese
