Opportunities to develop the fishing industry

Under the European Council’s new regulation, as of January 2010, seafood products exported to the EU market must have certificates of origin and the fishing vessel’s registration.

The regulation aims to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). The EU is currently Vietnam’s largest export market, accounting for one third of its exports. Vietnam will face many difficulties in applying the IUU law as the fishing industry is not yet developed on a large scale and fishing skills are still limited.

However, in the long term, this will give Vietnam an opportunity to re-examine and restructure its fishing industry in a more professional, effective and sustainable way.

According to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vu Van Tam, the IUU law not only aims to trace the origin of good quality seafood products but also to ensure that fishing operations are conducted on a more sustainable and responsible basis. Therefore, during the production process, fishermen and businesses are now required to provide clear and comprehensive details and certificates from authorised State agencies.

The fisheries sector is guiding fishermen and seafood businesses on this production process so that they can ensure all seafood products exported to the EU have a clear and legal origin, in line with the EU food hygiene and safety standards.

Mr Tam talked about this issue.

What immediate tasks should fishermen and businesses undertake right now?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued Circular No 63 under the Government’s Decree on organisations and individuals involving in fishing activities in Vietnamese territorial waters to ensure that the regulations on fishing operations and seafood products conform with the State law.

Do we have to inspect fishing vessels and re-classify fishing grounds?

Most of Vietnam’s major seafood export markets require exporters to ensure quality, food hygiene and safety and the origin of their products. Being one of the world’s major seafood exporters, Vietnam needs to implement this step by step in production process, aquaculture and when catching fish to meet demanding export requirements. In addition, for the domestic market, Vietnamese people will also be able to use top quality seafood products as in other export markets.

Can Vietnam meet the EC requirements? And how will the IUU affect Vietnam’s seafood exports?

It will be very difficult but necessary to meet the EC requirements because it affects Vietnam’s seafood exports. The EU market accounts for one-third of Vietnam’s total seafood exports. However, this gives Vietnam a good chance to assert the quality of its seafood and also to improve the producers’ sense of responsibility.

Do you think it is difficult to ask fishermen to record exploitation levels?

Vietnam has regulations asking fishermen to keep record of their catches but in the past most export markets did not require the origin of products so the job was not done properly. Currently, only the EU market asks for the origin of products while other markets pay more attention to the quality of products. The EC requirements will help Vietnam resume regulations and make them more effectively. IUU aims to not only trace the origin of products but also helps to sustain fish stocks and protect sources of seafood around the world.

Is it too late for Vietnam to issue regulations that identify the origin of seafood products?

It is not too late. In September 2008, right after the EU issued the regulation Vietnam started implementing it. However, how to make it suitable for small-scale operation is a different question. It will take more time to make fishermen understand and meet the EU requirements.

In the initial period, exports to the EU will probably face a number of difficulties. Do State management agencies have any measures to deal with the situation?

We foresee a few problems. However, a lot will depend on how the State management agencies, fishermen an businesses interpret them. This will be difficult to carry out but we must do it at any cost because the EU is a huge market that would help develop its fisheries industry professionally and sustainably.

VietNamNet/VOV

Tags: Vietnam fishing industry