New opportunities for tilapia farming.

(GLO) - Mai Tin Binh Dinh Co., Ltd. (Nhon Hoi Industrial Park, Quy Nhon Dong Ward) has completed the procedures for exporting its first batch of red snapper sushi to the Japanese market, marking an important step and opening up a sustainable development direction for the aquaculture industry.

This export shipment consists of 11 tons of finished red snapper sushi in three varieties: slices, cut-off, and center-cut fillet. These products will be distributed to Besia supermarket chain, a large retail system with 135 supermarkets throughout Japan.

A crucial turning point

Ms. Phan Bich Ngoc Hoa My, Deputy Director of Mai Tin Binh Dinh Co., Ltd., said: “We purchase 35 tons of red tilapia raw material from cages in Dinh Binh Lake, Vinh Thanh commune. Then, through 26 scientific processing stages, ensuring food safety and hygiene, traceability, and quality standards for sushi exported to the Japanese market.”

Workers inspect red snapper products before they are released to the market. Photo: Viet Hung.

The successful export of the first batch of 11 tons of red snapper sushi fish to Japan is of particular significance to Gia Lai province .

This not only demonstrates the quality of the product, meeting the stringent requirements of one of the world's most demanding markets, but also affirms the province's correct direction in developing cage fish farming combined with deep processing.

This opens up opportunities to increase product value, create momentum for expanding standardized farming areas, attract businesses to invest, and gradually bring Gia Lai's seafood products to the international market.

Mr. Huynh Viet Hung, Director of the Agricultural Extension Center (Department of Agriculture and Environment), said: “Since 2023, the Agricultural Extension Center has collaborated with Mai Tin Binh Dinh Co., Ltd. to survey cage fish farming areas in Dinh Binh Lake, taking samples to analyze water quality, heavy metals, and antibiotic residues. Along with that, we have developed technical transfer models and guided people in raising tilapia according to criteria that meet export requirements.”

Opening the way to sustainable development

The province currently has 283 irrigation reservoirs with a total capacity of over 1.2 billion ^m³ . Large reservoirs such as Dinh Binh, Nui Mot, Dong Mit, and Hoi Son not only play a role in storing water for agricultural production, but also create large, stable water surface areas suitable for developing cage fish farming.

According to statistics from the Fisheries Sub-Department (Department of Agriculture and Environment), the province currently has 1,235 cages for freshwater fish farming in reservoirs with a total volume of approximately 126,570 m³, raising various types of fish such as tilapia, snakehead, and catfish…

Among them, red tilapia is considered the main species for aquaculture due to its good adaptability, rapid growth, low susceptibility to disease, firm flesh, and popularity in the market.

Sushi dishes made from red snapper from Dinh Binh Lake. Photo: Viet Hung.

Although cage fish farming on reservoirs has existed for a long time, it is largely spontaneous, small-scale, uses simple techniques, and has not yet formed a sustainable supply chain; its potential is great, but the economic efficiency is still not commensurate. Therefore, the successful export of red tilapia to Japan is bringing great hope to cage fish farmers in the province.

Mr. Le Minh Thong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Thanh commune, said: "Currently, there are 24 households raising fish in Dinh Binh reservoir with a total of 390 cages. In the past, the biggest difficulty for cage fish farming in the locality has been the market. Therefore, with the local red tilapia being exported to the Japanese market, in the coming time, the commune government will proceed with planning and support for people to maintain and expand production, and improve the quality of fish raised in the reservoir."

Mr. Huynh Viet Hung added: “From the first shipment exported to Japan, the Center will continue to coordinate with businesses and farmers to perfect the process, expand the standardized farming areas, and ensure a stable supply for export. In the future, when the farming areas are standardized, people are equipped with sufficient technical knowledge, and businesses continue to invest heavily in deep processing, we believe that the province's cage fish farming industry will achieve sustainable development.”

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/co-hoi-moi-cho-nghe-nuoi-ca-dieu-hong-post574820.html