Can Tho City – Area under Fish Farming, 2004 & 2007

Since 2000, catfish farming and processing has become a key economic sector in Can Tho City with high growth rates in terms of areas under fish farming. Placed in the freshwater zone of the Mekong Delta with access to the Hau River (Bassac) and a very dense canal network natural conditions for catfish farming are fairly suitable. In particular in the flood prone northern districts of Can Tho City, namely Vinh Thanh, Thot Not, Co Do and O Mon, freshwater is abundant all year round and fish farmers therefore meet favorable conditions for growing fish (mainly catfish) in ponds.

Figure 1: Can Tho City – Area under Fish Farming, 2004. Scale: 1:110.000

Figure 2: Can Tho City – Area under Fish Farming, 2007. Scale: 1:110.000

GIS: Reference coordination system: Projection UTM 48 N; Datum WGS 84

The maps illustrate the area under fish farming at the district level within Can Tho City.

The most important map attributes such as class values and reference scale are tabulated in the map frame.

Ever since the catfish boom reached Can Tho at the end of the 1990s, the total output of farmed fish has more than doubled. In 2007, more than 13 thousand hectares were under fish farming, which evidences a considerable growth (28 percent) in comparison to 2004 (10 thousand hectares). Highest growth rates appear in the districts of Vinh Thanh, Thot Not and O Mon, which are on the way to become the catfish production center of Can Tho City, since many large-scale fish farms and processing companies are situated in these districts. In particular those districts that are situated next to the Hau River enjoy significant growth with respect to the areas under fish farming.