The Directorate of Fisheries held a conference to review the work in the first 6 months of the year and expanded tasks for the last 6 months of the year. MARD Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien attended and directed the conference.

According to the report of the VietNam Fisheries, it is estimated that by the end of June, the total aquatic product output reached 4.1 million tons, up 3% over the same period in 2020. Of which, the exploitation output reached nearly 2 million tons, up 1%, and the aquaculture output reached 2.1 million tons, up 4%; the value of aquatic product export turnover in the first 6 months of the year is estimated at 4.1 billion USD, up 13.6% over the same period and reaching 47.1% of the plan thanks to the recovery of consumer demand in major markets such as the US, the European Union (EU), and other potential markets.

Regarding brackish water shrimp alone, in the first 6 months of the year, the estimated brackish water shrimp output reached 371 thousand tons, up 12% over the same period in 2020; of which, the output of black tiger shrimp reached nearly 113 thousand tons, the output of white-leg shrimp reached nearly 258 thousand tons. Regarding pangasius, it is estimated that by the end of June 2021, the harvested output reached 704.1 thousand tons, up 0.9% over the same period; pangasius export turnover reached 637.9 million USD, up 14.7% over the same period.

Compared to the planned target, the total aquatic product output reached 104.3%, of which aquaculture output reached 102.3% and exploitation output reached 106.8%; and compared to the planned target for the whole year, the total aquatic product output reached 47.6%, of which exploitation output reached 51.9% and aquaculture output reached 44.2%.

This is a very encouraging result for the whole industry, because in the first 6 months of the year, the seafood industry faced many difficulties. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to develop complicatedly, affecting people's lives, the economy, and society, disrupting global supply chains, and directly affecting production, export, import, and consumption of seafood products due to a sharp decrease in demand for seafood in domestic and international markets.

At the same time, the situation of drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta is complicated, affecting aquaculture. At the same time, the European Commission continues to maintain the "yellow card" warning for Vietnam's exploited seafood.

Based on the good results in the first half of the year and the last 6 months of the year, the fisheries sector is determined to strive to achieve the dual goals directed by the government and the prime minister and the annual fishery plan targets assigned by the minister. Specifically, the total output reached 8.6 million tons, including 3.85 million tons of exploited output, 4.75 million tons of aquaculture output (of which pangasius reached 1.55 million tons; brackish water shrimp 943 thousand tons), and an export turnover of 8.5 billion USD.

At the conference, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung, Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries, said that in order to achieve the growth and export targets for the whole year, the Directorate of Fisheries is determined to strengthen environmental monitoring and warnings in concentrated aquaculture areas, strengthen quality control and verification of the authenticity of certificates of border export shipments, and provide conditions for ensuring food safety in aquaculture; and continue negotiations to restore the Saudi Arabian market.

In addition, the fisheries sector continues to coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities to carry out tasks and solutions to overcome the European Commission's warning on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, said that seafood enterprises are currently struggling to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic, and some enterprises are considering the option of having workers live right in the factory. The issue that Mr. Nam is particularly concerned about in the coming time is the story of granting aquaculture codes for the main product, shrimp.

“The tra fish product has done a very good job of granting farming codes, but there are still many problems with shrimp. Currently, the US and many other markets are very interested in this issue. The shrimp aquaculture codes are currently mainly assigned to localities; I think the General Department still has to play the role of "conductor," Mr. Nam said.

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries, emphasized: "Regarding the aquaculture coding for the main product of shrimp, in the immediate future, in all places that can meet the requirements, the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have issued documents to direct localities, continuously urged them over the past time, and will continue to promote in the coming time".

To continue implementing the "IUU yellow card" solution, some opinions said that it is necessary to strengthen propaganda and dissemination to fishermen of new regulations related to marine fishing activities and overcome shortcomings and limitations in implementation. Monitor and grasp the situation and weather developments, especially during the months with many storms and rains, to promptly direct and mobilize fishing vessels to exploit the profession and aquatic resources. Strengthen environmental monitoring and warnings in concentrated aquaculture areas to promptly issue recommendations and warnings to minimize damage to farmers while serving the direction of sustainable aquaculture production.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien acknowledged the outstanding results of the fisheries sector in the first 6 months of the year. However, the Deputy Minister also noted a number of issues that the fisheries sector needs to focus on in the last 6 months of the year to achieve the set common goals. In particular, the Deputy Minister emphasized that fisheries is an important sector to achieve the growth target of the agricultural sector. Fisheries must maintain development on all three pillars: exploitation, conservation, and aquaculture.

Regarding fisheries exploitation, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that the industry has been producing according to the movement for a long time. The restructuring of the fleet and the reduction of the fishing fleet, especially the nearshore vessels, have had initial results, but the reduction of fishing output needs a specific plan. To reduce this, it is necessary to strengthen conservation. The conservation and development of aquatic resources need to focus on improving quality. The General Department focuses on good practices to summarize and replicate.

Regarding farming, with two main products being shrimp and pangasius, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien assessed that pangasius has been well controlled and coded for growing areas, but the industry still needs to connect farming systems throughout the entire chain of products to improve product competitiveness. With shrimp, there is no room to increase acreage, only productivity. However, the seed control stage still has many shortcomings that require strict control and inspection. Because the quality of the seed is especially important in terms of quality, productivity, and disease prevention.

With the issuance of shrimp farming area codes, helping to trace the origin of products is facing many difficulties due to the land Law. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will propose to the Government in the coming time to allow amendments to this law and will proactively work with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to remove difficulties so that products can soon be traced, ensuring requirements for export.

Concluding the conference, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized: The achievements of the fisheries sector in the first 6 months of the year are very valuable. This achievement was achieved thanks to 4 important factors. Firstly, the attention of the party, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministry and the entire political system. Secondly, despite the extreme weather, it is basically favorable for agriculture in general, including fisheries. Secondly, it is the efforts of the entire agricultural sector, from the central to local levels. And above all, it is the effective support of a complete system of legal documents.

Along with the livestock sector, fisheries make an important contribution to the development of the entire agricultural sector. This is an important basis for the fisheries sector to achieve the targets set by the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development