Vietnamese fish-farmers urged to improve seafood quality

Vietnam's fisheries sector must focus on improving seafood quality, instead of aquaculture area and output increases, said Luong Le Phuong, deputy minister of Agricultural and Rural Development (DARD) on Apr 25.

The ministry will request provinces and local firms to raise quality of fisheries from breeding to export processing. Strict fine will be applied for firms that offer low-quality products, he added.

He continued that the ministry will also enhance quarantine works to ensure quality of exported seafood products.

The country's fisheries sector is facing numerous challenges such as climate change which results in saltwater intrusion, a shortage of a comprehensive plan for its sustainable development, and a lack of closed cooperation between the state, scientists, farmers and processors and among local provinces.

Vietnam exported US$4.5 billion worth of seafood in 2009, up from only US$15.2 million in 1981.

In the first quarter of this year, the country earned US$895 million from seafood exports, up 19% from previous year, including US$233 million from the EU, US$155 million from Japan and US$143 million from the US.