Tra fish industry in troubled waters

illustration photo

Chairman of Hung Ca Company Limited in Dong Thap - a Mekong Delta province - Tran Van Hung attributed costly tra fish to the high death rate of pedigree fish in a number of hatcheries in the Mekong Delta in September 2010.

“A two-centimetre pedigree fetches around VND1,200 against normal average price of VND250 per pedigree and is very scarce, causing a mountain of difficulties for tra fish farmers,” Hung said.

Nguyen Ngoc Hai, chairman of a tra fish breeding cooperative in O Mon district in Can Tho city said with a constant rise in aquafeed, pedigrees and specialised chemicals used in aquaculture fish growers had to reduce farming areas and the situation would possibly continue in 2011.

Deputy chairman of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Duong Ngoc Minh said most tra fish stocks exported in 2010 were bred in 2009 while tra fish farming areas saw a sharp decline on the back of soaring aquafeed and tra fish pedigree costs as well as limited access to bank loans.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam said it was crucial to raise tra fish productivity to make use of favourable export situation. He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development would soon introduce a tra fish development plan with priorities given to ensuring the interests of farmers, exporters and environmental standards.

Vietnam was home to 5,420 hectares of tra fish farming areas in 2010. The figure was expected to reach 6,000ha-6,300ha in 2011 with a production output of 1.2-1.3 million tonnes, generating an export value of $1.45-$1.55 billion.

Industry managers, scientists and businesses all believe a cautious approach will be needed while considering tra fish area expansion.