Fisheries Sector Motivates Danang Economic Development

In the first six months of 2012, relatively favourable weather resulted in good agricultural production in the city. The production value was estimated at VND417 billion in the first six months, equal to 63.28 per cent of the plan and up 2.71 per cent from a year earlier. Notably, the value of fishery production reached VND263 billion, or 63 per cent of agricultural production value.

 

Fishing output grossed 21,200 tonnes in the first half of 2012, equal to 63.4 per cent of the full-year plan and up 3.92 per cent year on year. The sector created a driving force for the city’s economic development.

 

Currently, the fishery sector concentrates on two fields, offshore fishing and fishing logistics. Particularly, the fishing industry has attained optimistic results in 2012. In 2012, the city gained five new fishing vessels, including three with engine capacity of 600 CV each and two with engine capacity of 400 - 600 CV, and replaced engines for 26 boats (including 11 with engine capacity of over 400 CV, seven with engine capacity of 250 - 400 CV, and eight with engine capacity of 90 -250 CV). Especially, the city operated its biggest-ever fishing vessel with an engine capacity of 948 CV and one 1,160-CV logistics ship - the largest private service boat in the central region.

To date, the city has 1,469 ships with a total engine capacity of more than 68,679 CV. Average engine capacity of the fleet is 46.75 CV. Besides, it has 636 motorised coracles with capacity of below 20 CV for littoral fishing.

 

To support fishermen, the sector has implemented support policies governed by Decision 48 on offshore fishing, launched fishery extension programme, supported insurance for 2,998 crew members working on ships of 50 CV and more, and installed integrated satellite navigation and communications systems for vessels and land stations to serve fishing vessel management, storm control and flood prevention.

 

Danang City has invested much in building good fishing infrastructure, including storm shelter mooring sites, fishing ports, wholesale fish markets and the Tho Quang fishing industrial service zone. The fishery sector earns US$100 million a year from exports, generates a lot of jobs and promotes the local marine economy.

 

Tho Quang fishing port has well developed logistics services for fishing vessels and organised trading activities. Annually, the facility handles over 100,000 tonnes of seafood. In the first six months of 2012, it handled 60,000 tonnes.

 

Mr Ho Pho, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: Danang City holds great potential for fisheries development. The city has over 70 km of coastline, with deep-water bays and harbours like Lien Chieu and Tien Sa. According to a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, the central fishing grounds currently hold a reserve of 1.14 million tonnes of marine creatures belonging to more than 670 species, including 110 species with high economic value.

 

He said the city will modernise and industrialise its fishery sector by restructuring its ship fleet and fishing activities, building offshore fishing logistics services, and organising processing activities to enhance quality and economic efficiency. Danang continues giving priority to offshore fleet development to protect the environment and aquatic resources, while protecting national territorial waters.

 

To make breakthroughs in quality and output in the fisheries sector, Danang City will continue investing in fishing logistics infrastructures. The city will have support policies for fishermen to boost fishing capacity and offshore fishing. It will also apply scientific advancements to fishing like horizontal sensing, net winches and satellite communication devices.