According to the plan of the Institute of Fisheries Economics and Planning (VIFEP) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, by 2015, the area of aquaculture in the Mekong Delta is estimated at 830,000 ha, the production 2.97 million MT and export turnover US$4.47 billion.

Key farmed species include black tiger shrimp, whiteleg shrimp, pangasius, tilapia, clam (for export), scampi, red snapper, white pomfret, mashed fish, marble goby, blood cockle, blue mussel, abalone, snail (for domestic consumption).

Main farming methods consist of the advanced extensive farming for black tiger shrimp and clam; the intensive farming for whiteleg shrimp and pangasius; the advanced extensive, semi-intensive and intensive for the rest species.

Concentrated farming regions are located in such provinces as Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre. Fresh water farming regions are located in An Giang, Dong Thap, Can Tho and Vinh Long.

To successfully implement the above tasks, it is necessary for provinces to enhance the training and improve the quality of human resources, especially technician staff. Besides, provinces should combine the production with the markets’ demand, ensure enough raw materials for processing and consumption, and avoid the crisis of raw materials.

In addition, the Mekong Delta should reorganize the production in the direction of the community management via cooperatives, farmers association, coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City and East Southern area to establish raw material regions applied the advanced farming processes.

The Mekong Delta will speed up the infrastructure construction in the concentrated processing regions, apply the management system to ensure the hygiene and food safety in which 100% processing enterprises comply with the national standards on hygiene and food safety.