The area of aquaculture in the province in 2015 was 202,372 ha, in 2017 increased to 240,630 ha and in the first 6 months of 2018 reached 195,264 ha. Aquaculture production in 2015 was 183,423 tons, in 2017 up to 217,041 tons, in the first 6 months of 2018 reached 84,342 tons. The province has well exploited natural advantages with salty - brackish – fresh water aquaculture.
Saline water aquaculture, typically cage – captured fish farming is around the islands of Kien Hai, Phu Quoc district, some communes of Kien Luong district and Ha Tien town. Grouper, cobia, pomfret and redtail catfish are raised in most of the traditional wooden rafts. The total number of cages in 2015 was 2,635, the output was 1,864 tons and the number of cages was 2,848 with 2,720 tons in 2017. The plan for 2018 is 3,000 cages, yielding 3,200 tons. The average annual growth rate for the period 2015-2017 is 3.96% of cages and 20.93% of production. Recently, there are models of raising pomfret in Phu Quoc by Norwegian technology, raising far from the shore for very high productivity of about 30-40 tons/cage.
Sea crabs are mainly intercropped with shrimp, fish, shellfish in coastal areas and protection forest in districts of An Bien, An Minh, Vinh Thuan, Kien Luong, Hon Dat, Ha Tien. Crab output is constantly increasing: by 2015 it reached 12,729 tons, 2017 reached 16,790 tons, 6,430 tons in the first 6 months of 2018; Average yield is 200-300 kg/ha.
The molluscs (blood cockles, sea scallops, oysters, clams) are developed with intertidal, intercropping models and in island of Kien Luong, Hon Dat, An Bien, An Minh and Ha Tien. The area of aquaculture in 2015 reached 14,500 ha with output of 51,033 tons; in 2017 was 20,725ha, the output was 69,393 tons; The first 6 months of 2018 is 36,300ha, output is 75,600 tons. The average yield is 3-3.5 tonnes/ha.
Brackish water aquaculture is typically shrimp farming, concentrated in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle (industrial and semi-industrial farming) and U Minh Thuong (shrimp-rice), accounting for 50% of the total area and 30% of aquaculture production. In particular, shrimp - rice accounted for 78%; extensive farming 20%, industrial and semi-industrial farming 2%. Average yield of shrimp is about 546 kg/ha. Specifically, the productivity of industrial and semi-industrial shrimp reached 7.045 kg/ha; shrimp-rice 445 kg/ha and advanced extensive shrimp farming 362 kg/ha. By 2015, the area of advanced extensive shrimp farming was 20,887ha with yields of 6,015 tons. In 2017, farming area reached 26,558ha with harvested yields of 9,614 tons. The area of shrimp farming is planned 26,666 hectares in 2018 with output reaching 9,650 tonnes.
Freshwater aquaculture is mainly small scale fish farming in ponds, fields, nets for domestic consumption in the districts of Chau Thanh, Giong Rieng, Tan Hiep, Hon Dat and U Minh Thuong. Yield is estimated at 1-1.7 tons/ha.
Secretary of Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Thanh Nghi said that by 2020, the area of aquaculture will decrease to 211,430ha but the output will increase to 265,505 tons, so that the per capita income in the area is twice the average one of the province. To achieve this, in Mr Nghi’s point of view, the province focuses on three following main tasks:
- Firstly, to construct infrastructure for fisheries development with an emphasis on irrigation with a capital of 950 billion VND to 2020, completing the irrigation system to attract investors to expand scale of aquaculture.
- Secondly, to increase the capacity of production and supply of breeds to meet the demand for quantity, quality assurance and disease-free for aquaculture; To invest 100 million VND in Phu Quoc aquatic breed center, invest in 6 fishery breeding farms and support the upgrading of nurseries so that by 2020, local breed production will meet 70-75% of the demand.
- Thirdly, to step up scientific and technological research and application, especially bio-technology in aquaculture, to raise productivity and quality, to ensure the hygiene and safety of aquatic products, increase efficiency and competitiveness, protection of ecological environment and sustainable development. In particular, attach importance is to the application of advanced cage technology of other countries in the region for pilot marine species farming along the islands for wide application after 2020.
Kien Giang province plans to raise cage-captured fish in Ha Tien town, Kien Luong, Kien Hai and Phu Quoc with marine fishes of high economic value. Brackish shrimp farming is in U Minh Thuong and part of Long Xuyen Quadrangle (Hon Dat, Kien Luong). Intensive and semi-intensive shrimp farming is in Ha Tien, Kien Luong, Giang Thanh, Hon Dat, An Bien, An Minh, Vinh Thuan. Improved extensive shrimp farming is in Ha Tien Town, Kien Luong, Giang Thanh, Hon Dat, An Bien, An Minh, U Minh Thuong, Vinh Thuan. Giant freshwater shrimp farming in the field is in Vinh Thuan, U Minh Thuong. Sea crab breeding is in Ha Tien, Giang Thanh, Kien Luong, Hon Dat, An Bien and An Minh. Mollusks farming is in Kien Luong, Hon Dat, Phu Quoc, An Bien, An Minh; Farming of freshwater species including eel, frog, tortoise, crocodile, loach is in Kien Luong, Hon Dat, Chau Thanh, Tan Hiep, Go Quao, Giong Rieng and U Minh Thuong.
Nhu Nguyet