Binh Thuan is one of the major “fish barns” of our country. Comprehensively developing the fisheries sector in a sustainable manner is the way that Binh Thuan continues to choose to effectively exploit the potential and advantages of the locality. Looking back at the path of formation and development, the fisheries sector of Binh Thuan has gone through many difficulties and challenges, gradually developed and achieved many achievements.
Forming a powerful fleet
In the period of 1986 - 1992, along with the economic renovation policy, the province's fisheries sector was given attention and promoted. The output of exploited aquatic products increased with many special seafood species of high economic value such as: Scallops, razor clams, clams, dom... creating a large source of raw materials for export processing, bringing in large foreign currency revenue for the province. The highlight of this period was that Thuan Hai was considered the first province to establish the Fisheries Control Force, a specialized force in managing and protecting aquatic resources, which was an important practical basis for the Ministry of Fisheries to develop the Ordinance on Protection and Development of Aquatic Resources and submit it to the State Council for promulgation in 1989.
In April 1992, Thuan Hai province was divided into Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan provinces. During the period of 1992 - 2008, a number of resolutions of the Party and policies of the State were issued related to the fisheries sector, which had a great impact on the development of the province's fisheries sector, bringing about many outstanding achievements in various fields. Especially in the period of 2010 - 2020, Binh Thuan fishermen boldly invested in large ships and large machines to go offshore for long-term fishing to achieve higher economic efficiency. Up to now, with a fleet of over 8,000 ships, Binh Thuan is among the top localities in the country in terms of fishing capacity and exploitation output. Most of the fishing vessels with a length of 15 meters or more operating in the offshore area have been invested in quite synchronously, applying new materials (including 18 steel-hulled fishing vessels, 8 composite-hulled fishing vessels), modern equipment, exploitation technology, and product preservation, capable of operating stably for a long time at sea. In particular, Binh Thuan is one of the provinces that has developed strongly and pioneered in the country in the model of fishing logistics services with hundreds of large-capacity fishing vessels participating, especially concentrated in Phu Quy island district.
If the whole province has 145 fishing logistics service vessels, purchasing at sea, Phu Quy has up to 137. Fisherman Ngo Van Khanh (Tam Thanh commune, Phu Quy) is one of the people who have been attached to the fishing profession for a long time on the island and has more than 20 years of experience in logistics services. Mr. Khanh said: “In addition to purchasing seafood, logistics service vessels will supply fuel, food, and necessities to fishing vessels fishing at sea, helping them save time going ashore to sell products. Not only that, the logistics fleet on the island regularly tows and supports fishing vessels with broken engines or vessels in distress at sea when they accidentally encounter them. Therefore, the offshore fishing fleet here not only fishes, exploits, and purchases, but is also very close-knit, supporting each other during operations at sea and actively participating in protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland”.
Enhance the value of the fisheries industry
Not only focusing on developing the capacity to catch and exploit seafood from the sea, Binh Thuan also focuses on exploiting the advantages of coastal areas, sea surface, ponds and lakes to expand aquaculture areas and introduce many new farming objects into actual production. The whole province currently has more than 2,600 hectares of aquaculture area, mainly freshwater and brackish water farming. In particular, many white-leg shrimp farming facilities have made positive changes in farming technology, investing in building separate water and wastewater treatment systems, applying microbiological processes in farming ponds, automatic feeding machines... for high productivity. In particular, shrimp seed production still maintains its reputation and high-quality brand in the market. In particular, there are many facilities with large production scale, especially 2 enterprises are granted certificates of High-tech Agricultural Enterprises and 3 enterprises have certificates of international quality standards in shrimp seed production.
Another “pull-on” relationship in the seafood industry is that when production output is quite good, the processing industry also develops accordingly, bringing in quite large added value. Seafood processing in Binh Thuan is considered a key industry in the food processing industry of the province when many large seafood processing and exporting enterprises appeared very early (typically Hai Nam Company Limited), with large investments in technology, business strategy, market development and products (both frozen and dry goods). The traditional fish sauce processing profession with the Phan Thiet Fish Sauce brand is maintained and developed.
The province's fisheries sector is aiming to build a responsible fishery, striving to make Binh Thuan a major regional and national center for shrimp and seafood seed production; exploitation, processing, and fisheries logistics services. To do that, Mr. Nguyen Van Chien - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shared: "The province will continue to improve the efficiency of offshore fishing, modernize the offshore fleet associated with fishing logistics services. Minimize and eventually end fishing activities that destroy aquatic resources, encourage the conversion of occupations that harm resources, especially prohibit the development of trawling in all forms to contribute to the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In addition, aquaculture will be developed in the direction of intensive, super-intensive farming, applying high technology, to increase value and sustainable development, in which, promoting the advantages of Binh Thuan shrimp and maintaining the brand. In the future, Phu Quy will be developed into a center for offshore fishing services and logistics". In particular, Mr. Chien recommended: “The National Assembly and the Government need to pay attention to allocating investment capital, upgrading fishing port infrastructure, storm shelters for boats to serve the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing, tracing the origin of aquatic products, contributing to the whole country removing the EC's "Yellow Card" warning. ...”.
With available potential and advantages, along with production experience accumulated over many generations as well as the right development orientation, we believe that Binh Thuan's seafood industry will be confident, overcome difficulties, continue to reach far in the future and develop more and more sustainably.
Aquatic product output in 2023 will reach over 235,000 tons, an increase of more than 32,000 tons compared to 2010. The added value of the fisheries sector will reach VND 8,457.3 billion, contributing 30% of the added value (VA) of the agricultural, forestry and fishery sector and contributing over 7.5% of the GRDP of the whole province; export turnover will reach 211,447 thousand USD, continuing to play a key role in the marine economic sectors and making an important contribution to the economy of Binh Thuan province.
MINH VAN, PHOTO: N. LAN
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