Kien Giang targets 830,000 tonnes of seafood in 2025

Phu Vinh Thai, Deputy Director of the provincial Fisheries Sub-Department, said the target was revised up by 10,000 tonnes under a new provincial directive adjusting socio-economic goals.

Aquaculture is set to see the biggest increase, with farming areas expanding by 14,000 hectares to 325,000 hectares. Brackish water shrimp output is projected at 155,000 tonnes, up from 145,000 tonnes in the previous plan.

The adjustment supports Kien Giang’s goal of boosting GDP growth to at least 8% in 2025, up from 7.5% in earlier projections under Resolution No. 18/NQ-HDND.

Thai called for closer monitoring of weather patterns and fishery resources to better guide fishing operations. He also urged greater organization in offshore fishing through cooperative fleets, while strengthening enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

In aquaculture, the province plans to diversify farming models and species, prioritizing high-value products such as brackish water shrimp, marine fish, and specialty freshwater species. Shrimp farming will adopt a range of systems, intensive, semi-intensive, improved extensive, rice-shrimp, and forest-shrimp, with a focus on lower stocking densities and larger-sized harvests.

Integrated mud crab farming will also be expanded, using models such as crab-shrimp-rice and crab-forest systems. Farmers are encouraged to fatten crabs to roe stage to increase market value.

High-value mollusks, including blood cockles, ark clams, wedge clams, clams, sweet snails, and pearls, are also being promoted. Priority marine fish include grouper, cobia, and golden pompano.

To improve efficiency, farmers will be supported in shifting from traditional cages to HDPE cages, offshore operations, and high-tech farming. The province will also promote linkages among stakeholders to cut costs, expand market access, and raise profits.

VFM