HCM City eyes US$50 million in ornamental fish exports

Last year, the city exported 13 million pet fish and gained revenue of US$12 million, doubling 2010’s figure. 

The exports were mainly neon fish, molly fish, sailfin molly, seven-coloured fish, Siamese fighting fish and dicus. They were shipped to 47 countries worldwide with Europe accounting for 60-70% of the market share.

The city has 10 firms and fish breeding farms involved in exporting. 

Although growth has seen in the city’s ornamental fish exports, production scale is still small and cannot fill large orders. In comparison with regional rivals like Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, Vietnam’s ornamental fish exports are still weak.

Under the programme to boost ornamental fish breeding development, the city will focus on increasing quantity and product value, making upgrades to the breeding infrastructure to prevent disease and protecting the environment.

Ornamental fish production will be branched out to district 8, 9, 12, Go Vap, Thu Duc, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh and Hoc Mon while all breeding farms will join monitor programmes for export.

The city has also mapped out breeding and technical programmes and outlined mechanisms to boost ornamental fish development.

Along with setting up linkages between pet fish production and consumption, the city will also build a website on ornamental fish to introduce breeding farms and enterprises to customers.

Efficient production models which provide disease free fish for export and agricultural markets offering consultancy about pet fish will also be built.