Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam’s aquacultureoutput reached 370,000 tonnes in May, a year-on-year increase of 3.3 percent,according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The total output for the first five months thisyear was 1.235 million tonnes, up 2.4 percent year on year.

In the period, the total output of Tra fish inthe Mekong Delta provinces hit 465,900 tonnes, up 11.1 percent from the sameperiod last year, while aquaculture area was estimated at 3,092 hectares,falling 6.2 percent. The sharpest increase of Tra fish output was recorded inCan Tho city, by 50.1 percent, followed by An Giang, by 11.9 percent, and DongThap, 3.2 percent.

The price of Tra fish slightly dropped in May,to around 24,000 – 26,000 VND per kilogram. The price of Tra fish foy alsofell, ranging from 27,000 – 50,000 VND (1.2 - 2.2 USD) per kg.

The nation’s total shrimp raising area wasestimated at 597,000 hectares, up 6.8 percent from the same period last year,with total output topping 144,000 tonnes, increasing by 46.2 percent. Shrimpprices ranged between 85,000 VND – 340,000 VND (3.7 – 15 USD) per kg.

In the period, the output of fish catch topped1.327 million tonnes, up 5.2 percent year on year, of which 1.264 milliontonnes were caught at sea, up 5.5 percent. The total output included 311,000tonnes caught in May, according to the Ministry.

Thanks to favourable weather, fishermen in thecentral provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien – Hue tooklonger offshore fishing trips.

The total output of tuna hit 10,050 tonnes, up5.8 percent year on year, including 2,789 tonnes caught in Phu Yen, dropping5.2 percent; 5,296 tonnes in Binh Dinh, and 2,092 tonnes in Khanh Hoa, up 14.9percent and 6.1 percent, respectively.-VNA