Conference seeks ways to improve effectiveness of fishery

A conference is held in Tuy Hoa city, the south central province of Phu Yen on May 16 to discuss ways to improve the effectiveness of fishing as well as seafood processing and distribution in 2020. (Photo: VNA)

Phu Yen (VNA) – Local authorities, seafood producers and fishermen from 28 coastal cities and provinces gathered in a conference on May 16 to seek ways to improve the effectiveness of fishing as well as seafood processing and distribution in 2020.

The event was held in Tuy Hoa city, the south central province of Phu Yen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the provincial People’s Committee.

Participants discussed how seafood is traded, processed and preserved currently and measures to improve the value of seafood products, quality management and safety control. They also chalked out ways to boost export of Vietnamese seafood.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien requested the ministry’s agencies and local administrations to provide fishermen with all possible conditions and support them to go fishing offshore.

The Directorate of Fisheries and the localities must take urgent measures to implement recommendations made by the EU in order to have the EU’s “yellow card” warning lifted, and adopt supportive policies to develop the fishery sector, he said.

The directorate was also tasked to conduct more studies and surveys of aquatic resources and provide forecast of fisheries to help fishermen exploit them more effectively, the deputy minister noted.

He went on to urge the coastal localities to strengthen monitoring of their fishing ships, increase investment in infrastructure and logistics services for the fishery sector and apply advanced technology to seafood exploitation, processing and preservation while supporting producers in developing brands and distributing their products.

Data of the Directorate of Fisheries shows that there are more than 88,100 fishing boats of 6 metres or longer registered nationwide, including over 31,400 with a length of more than 15 metres.

This year, Vietnam targets to exploit about 3.68 million tonnes of seafood. Exports of fishery products are set to reach 10 billion USD./.