Vietnam to up tilapia fish production to meet US demand - VIETNAM - Tilapia fish price in the US has risen so dramatically that Vietnam is now considering increasing its production of the fish, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Fisheries.
The ministry now plans to expand breeding area to 13,000-15,000 hectares in the south-western region of the country, in order to produce 120,000-150,000 tonnes of the fish worth an estimated US$100-120 million annually.
The ministry added that though tilapia fish is one of Vietnam''s key export items, the tilapia fish production industry is still in its infancy.
Vietnam now targets by 2010 to produce 200,000 tonnes of tilapia fish, half of which is for export, and to reach an export turnover of US$160 million.
Source: eFeedLink - 12th September 2005