Lig
Lignin
MJ
Mega joule
N
Nitrogen
NDF
Neutral detergent fiber
Org.
Organisms
P
Phosphorus
PCR
Polymerase chain reaction
RIA 1
Research institute for aquaculture No. 1
RSD
Red spot disease
SRS
Self-recruiting species
TV
Television
USD
US dollar
VND
Vietnamese dong
8.1 Role of Aquaculture in Vietnam
Aquaculture has a long tradition in Vietnam, predominantly in the lowlands and
coastal areas. Since the establishment of the General Fisheries Department in 1960,
the development of aquaculture has been one of its focal activities. For the next two
decades, the Department’s activities were exclusively targeted at increasing fish
production for domestic consumption, and were expanded to upland areas in
conjunction with the expansion of paddy rice irrigation schemes in later years.
Since 1980, the focus has shifted towards export production, with marine
crustaceans initially the key product, and more recently Pangasius catfish
(Pangasianodon hypophthalmus and Pangasius bocourti) (FAO 2006a). The direct
and indirect governmental support provided to the aquaculture sector has resulted in
the rapid growth of aquaculture production (Fig. 8.1), and the different policies
developed are reflected in the production data for aquaculture in terms of
the domestic supply and consumption of fish and seafood (Table 8.1). While the
production of marine crustaceans and Pangasius catfish is mainly for export, the
aquaculture of carp and tilapia species bred in freshwater is highly important in
the supply of animal protein to the Vietnamese population at the national level. On a
regional scale, in remote areas such as the uplands, the food supply from aquaculture can only be assured based on regional production, as fish are highly perishable,
and with a generally poor infrastructure the cost of transporting goods from the
lowlands may exceed the production costs.
282
J. Pucher et al.
Lignin
MJ
Mega joule
N
Nitrogen
NDF
Neutral detergent fiber
Org.
Organisms
P
Phosphorus
PCR
Polymerase chain reaction
RIA 1
Research institute for aquaculture No. 1
RSD
Red spot disease
SRS
Self-recruiting species
TV
Television
USD
US dollar
VND
Vietnamese dong
8.1 Role of Aquaculture in Vietnam
Aquaculture has a long tradition in Vietnam, predominantly in the lowlands and
coastal areas. Since the establishment of the General Fisheries Department in 1960,
the development of aquaculture has been one of its focal activities. For the next two
decades, the Department’s activities were exclusively targeted at increasing fish
production for domestic consumption, and were expanded to upland areas in
conjunction with the expansion of paddy rice irrigation schemes in later years.
Since 1980, the focus has shifted towards export production, with marine
crustaceans initially the key product, and more recently Pangasius catfish
(Pangasianodon hypophthalmus and Pangasius bocourti) (FAO 2006a). The direct
and indirect governmental support provided to the aquaculture sector has resulted in
the rapid growth of aquaculture production (Fig. 8.1), and the different policies
developed are reflected in the production data for aquaculture in terms of
the domestic supply and consumption of fish and seafood (Table 8.1). While the
production of marine crustaceans and Pangasius catfish is mainly for export, the
aquaculture of carp and tilapia species bred in freshwater is highly important in
the supply of animal protein to the Vietnamese population at the national level. On a
regional scale, in remote areas such as the uplands, the food supply from aquaculture can only be assured based on regional production, as fish are highly perishable,
and with a generally poor infrastructure the cost of transporting goods from the
lowlands may exceed the production costs.
282
J. Pucher et al.