Can Tho affirms its position as fisheries hub of the Mekong Delta

A saline – freshwater – brackish interregional advantage

The merger of Can Tho, Hau Giang, and Soc Trang not only expands administrative boundaries but also creates a continuous aquaculture area with diverse ecosystems encompassing saline, brackish, and freshwater areas. This provides a significant advantage, helping Can Tho become a coordination and development hub for the sustainable fisheries value chain across the entire Mekong Delta region.

According to Ms. Quach Thi Thanh Binh, Deputy Director of the Can Tho Department of Agriculture and Environment, the city possesses abundant water resources, including saline areas along the Hau River, inland freshwater zones, and a system of aquaculture, processing, and exporting enterprises and breeding centers. "This is the foundation for establishing a closed production–processing–consumption chain that ensures economic, social, and environmental factors," Ms. Binh emphasized.

Currently, Can Tho has planned many concentrated aquaculture clusters with key species such as pangasius, bronze featherback, tilapia, square-head anabas, and brackish-water shrimp. These species have advantages and high economic value, which are well-suited to export markets. Processing enterprises are proactively cooperating with farmers to develop raw material areas that meet international standards, linking production with traceability and VietGAP certification. These efforts are gradually forming a complete supply chain that meets the requirements of demanding markets, such as the EU, the U.S., and Japan.

At the same time, localities with aquaculture areas and fishermen have invested in building raw material areas that meet international standards while accelerating the application of biotechnology in aquaculture to improve productivity and product quality. Can Tho City's agriculture and environment sector is orienting toward developing the "green seafood" brand via product traceability and VietGAP certification, linking production with circular economy models to create value chains, reduce input costs, and minimize environmental pollution.

Linkage chains – Key to sustainable development

In the context of global integration, Can Tho has identified its strategic direction, which is developing a comprehensive fisheries value chain linking farming, processing, consumption, and traceability. The city sets a goal of enhancing the sector’s overall value by 2030, striving to become the fisheries hub of the Mekong Delta.

Among the cooperative models that bring farmers together and promote production linkages, Ky Nhu Cooperative (Tam Vu 1 hamlet, Thanh Hoa commune) stands out as a model of value chain linkage that elevates Can Tho seafood. The cooperative both produces bronze featherback that meets VietGAP standards and signs consumption contracts with local fishermen, creating a closed linkage chain from seeds to consumption.

After harvest, the fish are deeply processed into a variety of value-added products such as fish cakes, boneless fillets, marinated fish, and vegetable fish rolls. These are vacuum-packed for the domestic market and export.

Thanks to participating in the linkage chain, farmers receive technical support, reduce production costs, and secure stable outputs. "There is no longer the situation of 'good harvest, bad price.' Linkage chains are the key to helping farmers increase their income and move toward sustainable development," shared Ms. Quach Thi Thanh Binh.

In addition, Can Tho City is promoting deep processing and the utilization of by-products to produce collagen products, fish oil, and fish meal, both enhancing product value and reducing waste while contributing to environmental protection. Processing plants focus on shifting to clean technologies and automation, reducing emissions, and aligning with the green standards of import markets.