Khanh Hoa Province Boosting Aquatic Exports

In recent years, near shore fishing is ineffective because of overexploitation. To deal with the situation, the building and purchasing of new equipment and stronger ships are options, boosting fishing in Khanh Hoa Province. The fleet of fishing boats in the province was 5,060 units with a combined capacity of 132,500 CV, but the number recently jumped to 5,424 units with nearly 217,000 CV capacity, including 369 ships with 90-CV engines and upward for offshore fishing. Thus, Khanh Hoa has made significant progress in fishing. Especially, with new equipment and methods, fishermen are able to catch high-value fish like ocean tuna. In 2006, in spite of adverse storm impacts, fishing output still increased 3 per cent on year to more than 65,000 tonnes. In parallel with increasing fishing capacity, logistics services have gained momentum, boosting fisheries in Khanh Hoa Province as expected. The province now has eight fishing ports, and Nha Trang fishing market now supplies fuel, food and equipment for fishermen in Khanh Hoa and regional provinces.

 

The fisheries of Khanh Hoa are diverse, supported by expensive fishing policies. The province now has three scientific institutes on fisheries, including the Institute of Fisheries Research 03, the Institute of Oceanography and Nha Trang University. These allow the locality to fully tap its fishery potential. Especially, the lobster rearing in Cam Ranh, Nha Trang and Van Ninh generated big incomes for local people. In 2006, the province caught 24,700 tonnes of aquatic products reared by fishermen, including 1,142 tonnes of lobster, 3,500 tonnes of mollusc, 11,500 tonnes of seaweed and 2,350 tonnes of other products. So far, Khanh Hoa Province has set up many large scale shrimp-rearing farms.

 

Aquatic exports remain a strong point for Khanh Hoa Province in recent years. The province now has 43 export aquatic processing factories, including 22 refrigerators, three canners, 15 driers and five freezers, licensed to penetrate the EU market. Khanh Hoa aquatic products are various and competitive. Khanh Hoa now ranks fourth in terms of aquatic export revenues after Ca Mau, Soc Trang and Can Tho. In 2001, the provincial aquatic export revenue was US$120 million but jumped to US$260 million in 2006, accounting for more than 65 per cent of total local export earnings.

 

Local companies always seek to expand their export markets, actively take part in domestic and international trade fairs, and intensify export promotion activities in the potential markets. Prior to 2000, Khanh Hoa aquatic products were only seen in traditional markets like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia, but now the local products are consumed in the huge EU and US markets. These are stable markets. To ensure operational capacity, in addition to expanding export markets, the province has also set up material areas.
Xuan Long