HCM City looks to expand ornamental fish industry

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With nearly 300 production establishments turning out around 120 million fish worth 500 billion VND (22.5 million USD) in 2015, HCM City is the industry’s centre, according to Huynh Thi Kim Cuc, deputy director of the department. 

The same year, the city exported 13 million ornamental fish to 50 countries and territories, earning 12 million USD. The European market accounts for 70 percent of the sector’s export volume. 

The industry has set the goal of producing between 120-180 million fish each year and exporting 40 to 50 million fish with a value of 50 million USD by 2020. 

Participants said small-scale and scattered production without cooperation among production establishments of the industry is denting its development. 

Le Huu Thien, General Director of the Thien Duc Ornamental Plants and Animals Company, said the city needs to build a market dedicated to ornamental plants and animals to serve both trade and sighting activities. 

According to Dr. Nguyen Diem Thu from the Research Institute for Aquaculture, large-scale ornamental fish production needs to pay attention to prevention and treatment of diseases. 

The application of science and technology is also important, Vu Thi Thanh Huong, from the HCM City Centre for Biotechnology, said, adding that her centre is researching the creation of new species of fish using the genetic modification method on indigenous ornamental fish.