Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exportersand Producers (VASEP)’s target of 524 million USD in tuna exports for the yearhas been completed early as the figure already hit 541 million USD as of November.
According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in the 11months, Vietnamese tuna’s three major markets were the US, EU and ASEAN.
However, Vietnam faced difficulties due to a “yellow card” issued by theEU as a warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
VASEP General Secretary Truong Dinh Hoe said the warning has worried theseafood sector due to its direct impact on tuna exports.
Hoe said that the VASEP is working with the Ministry of Agriculture andRural Development (MARD) to deal with the yellow card for the rest of thesix-month punishment.
He noted that in 2018, the US will also apply IUU regulations infishing, which will not only affect tuna and all seafood caught in Vietnam but asloseafood products with material imported from elsewhere.
The VASEP representative said that in order to maintain seafood exportrevenue, efforts to deal with IUU warnings and regain a green card are crucial.
To control origin of seafood materials for export, the MARD has launcheda national plan to prevent and minimise IUU fishing. Along with proposing tothe Government an offshore fishing project, the ministry has set up a system tocontrol domestic and imported seafood materials and monitor fishing activities.
A fisheries database has also been formed to strengthen capacity inverifying seafood origin, thus stopping illegally exploited seafood from beingimported to Vietnam.
The MARD is determined to completely end IUU fishing and fishingviolations in foreign waters next year. It also aims for 95 percent of allseafood’s origin to be determined at port by 2025.-VNA
VNA
