The province’s total shrimp production in the first five months of this year was 143,000 tonnes. The figure is estimated to reach 159,000 tones in first half of the year, a drop of 3% over the same period last year, the local People’s Committee reported. 

The drought and salinity, reaching its peak during April and May, resulted in complete loss in several farms and caused diseases to others in many localities across the province. 

Ca Mau has announced a natural disaster on aquaculture, with an estimated repair cost mounting to over VND142 billion (US$6.36 million). 

According to Ngo Thanh Linh, Secretary-General of the Ca Mau Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, local shrimp processing factories are forecast to operate at 50%-60% of their capacity to the end of this year, with estimated export revenue of about US$1 billion for the whole year, lower than the province’s target of US$1.2 billion. 

Furthermore, rising shrimp prices and competition from Chinese traders also make it difficult for factories to supply enough shrimp, he added. 

The Ca Mau People’s Committee estimates that total seafood exports in the first six months of this year is US$416 million, equal to 98% of that in the same period last year. 

Local seafood processors, especially small and medium-sized, are in need of supportive measures to maintain their production in the rest of the year. However, Le Van Quang, Director of Minh Phu Seafood Company, said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should still strictly control the amount of antibiotics in shrimp to ensure the reputation of Vietnam’s seafood in the world market.