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| Mr. Nguyen Van Loc, General Director of Dong Duong Seafood Processing Company Limited spoke at the conference. |
Proposal to expand the planning area of Go Gang fishing port
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Loc, Chairman of the Provincial Fisheries Association, said that enterprises with processing factories that cause environmental pollution and are forced to relocate out of residential areas are facing many difficulties.
Mr. Loc analyzed that the two proposed areas for relocating the seafood processing factory in Theo Neo hamlet (Binh Chau commune, Xuyen Moc) and Loc An seafood processing industrial park (Long Dat) are both unsuitable, because they are located 40 to 65km away from raw fishing ports, and conflict with local residential areas and tourist areas.
Meanwhile, 5 fishing ports along Ben Dinh River (in Thang Nhi Ward and Ward 5, Vung Tau City) are currently receiving about 50% of the total number of fishing boats anchored in the whole province. If the projects to dredge Ben Dinh Canal and build the coastal urban area of Cu Lao Ben Dinh are implemented, it will affect the anchorage of fishing boats.
The Fisheries Association proposed increasing the area of the Go Gang fishing port planning area from 100ha to 400ha to both serve as an anchorage area for boats and storm shelters, and to establish a centralized processing, trade, and service area, facilitating the purchasing and transportation of raw materials.
Also at the conference, Mr. Dao Quoc Tuan, Director of Tu Hai Seafood Company Limited, said that the traffic infrastructure and wastewater treatment in seafood processing planning areas are currently incomplete and lack synchronization, making it difficult for businesses to boldly invest in resources and technology.
He recommended that the province review, adjust and complete the planning of seafood processing zones, ensuring synchronous infrastructure, convenient traffic connections and long-term stability.
“Overcoming shortcomings in planning not only improves economic efficiency and promotes business investment, but also contributes to environmental protection and sustainable development of the local fisheries industry,” Mr. Tuan emphasized.
In terms of actual fishing activities, Mr. Nguyen Van Ton, Chairman of the Vung Tau City Fisheries Association, said that anchovy fishing mainly takes place in offshore and coastal areas, using boats over 15m long because it requires a lot of labor (over 10 people/boat). However, according to Decree 42/2019/ND-CP of the Government , fishing boats over 15m long are required to operate in offshore areas, making it difficult for fishermen to obtain fishing licenses.
Mr. Ton suggested that the agricultural sector should have a specific mechanism for the anchovy industry, because this is an industry with high economic efficiency, with an annual output of more than 13,500 tons, while also contributing to protecting the Ba Ria-Vung Tau fish sauce brand.
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| Mr. Nguyen Dinh Ngoc, a fisherman in Vung Tau City, reported shortcomings in granting technical safety certificates for fishing vessels. |
For sustainable development of the aquaculture industry
Informing businesses, Ms. Pham Thi Na, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that the whole province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau currently has 4,908 fishing vessels, of which 2,408 are offshore fishing vessels, accounting for 49%. The average seafood output reaches more than 350,000 tons/year, equivalent to 94% of the total output of the Southeast region and about 9% of the total output of the country, second only to Kien Giang province.
In addition to exploitation, the province also strongly develops aquaculture with key species such as giant tiger prawn, white-leg shrimp, pomfret, grouper, cobia, oysters, blood cockles, clams, monosex tilapia...
Currently, the province has 446 enterprises, establishments and individual households processing seafood, with a capacity of about 250,000 tons of finished products per year. Of these, 53 factories have achieved export qualification (COD) certification, with 33 factories in the EU market alone. Ba Ria-Vung Tau seafood has been exported to more than 40 countries, with a turnover of about 343 million USD per year.
The fight against illegal fishing (IUU) continues to be stepped up. The number of fishing vessels violating foreign waters and losing connection has decreased significantly.
Ms. Na acknowledged the comments of businesses and fishermen, especially those related to planning, support policies, administrative procedure reform and fishing infrastructure. “The Department will fully synthesize and coordinate with relevant units to report to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and direction to resolve issues within its authority; at the same time, propose to relevant ministries and branches on issues beyond its authority,” Ms. Na said.
Article and photos: NGOC MINH
Source: https://baobariavungtau.com.vn/kinh-te/202506/doi-thoai-go-kho-cho-ngu-dan-doanh-nghiep-thuy-san-1044323/
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