Fisheries with the goal of exporting 10 billion USD

On the export growth trend of more than 8% in 2018 with the export turnover of 9 billion USD, in the year of 2019, the strong fishery sector sets the export growth target of over 11% with the value of 10 billion USD.

Pangasius is the most impressive seafood export item in 2018. Photo: N.Thanh.

Many challenges

Considering the economic situation in 2019 has an impact on seafood export, according to the General Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development): The world economy is on the rise again, the possibility of consumption demand is higher, in which seafood products consist. Agreements including: Comprehensive and Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Vietnam-EU (EVFTA) are effective as the driving force for Vietnam's trade to have many advantages. Besides, the China-American trade war can also create opportunities. Along with that, the anti-dumping tax on pangasius and shrimp into the US market decreased compared to the preliminary conclusion, and will continue to create conditions for export to the US market. Compared with 2018, in 2019 the fisheries sector aims to increase the value of aquatic production (comparative price) to 4.25%; in 2018, total seafood production reached 7,983.8 thousand tons, up 3.1% and seafood export turnover reached 10 billion USD, up 11.1%.

The General Department of Fisheries also stated: Besides the favorable factors, the two agreements are CPTPP and EVFTA and the US-China trade war can also create challenges and instabilities. In addition, the climate change situation will be complicated; the water supply for the Mekong Delta is strongly affected by the construction of many dams upstream. Besides, the European Commission's yellow card (EC) in 2017 has not been removed, it will affect export.

Around the advantages and challenges in seafood export in 2019, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Deputy Director of the General Department of Fisheries analyzed: Vietnam has many potentials and advantages, including saline water and water intrusion. Sea level rise is also an advantage for Vietnam to expand fisheries area. In addition, the Government's Resolution No. 120 / NQ-CP dated November 17, 2017, on sustainable development of the Mekong Delta adapting to climate change has also raised concerns for the Mekong Delta provinces, fisheries will be the first priority. In addition, there are many science and technology programs currently being invested by the Government and investment sectors. In addition to investment in science and technology by the State, the private sector has now entered with very strong efforts to develop technology in aquaculture, especially the application of technology 4.0 for better management, enhancing transparency, and transparency of products to serve traceability for meeting difficult export markets.

"However, in the process of integration, there are many free trade agreements but the markets tend to self-protect, setting technical barriers to restrict imported seafood products from other countries. Regarding production organization, large-scale Pangasius production is completely clear, but some other sectors such as shrimp, still have quite a lot of small production businesses. It is one of the limitations to overcome to improve the value of the industry. In addition, some new areas such as tilapia farming, production organization and market development are just the first steps. In order to bring into full play its potential, in the coming time, it is necessary to continue to promote synchronous solutions in the approved restructuring plan. In addition, in each specific time, it is necessary to be flexible in directing and operating to achieve the highest effective production,” Mr. Luan said.

Towards sustainable fisheries

From the perspective of the representative of seafood export enterprises, Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam - Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) evaluated: Over the past years, the fishery industry has developed towards reducing costs and raising high added value. However, in the coming time, one of the important points that the whole industry must pay attention to is the use of by-products. This is the dominant factor creating production value as well as export turnover.

Mr. Nguyen Van Trung - Director of Fisheries Exploitation (General Department of Fisheries) gave another view on the aspect of fisheries infrastructure and human resources for the development of the industry. "Currently, the number of fishing ports is lacking. In terms of quality, most of the ports were invested in a long time ago and have had new investment, but they have not met the demand. In the past, when the EC Inspection Team came to assess and chose a number of new ports, most of them were quite unstable and weak. Recently, Vietnam built many large ships, with 3,000 ships over 24m long, but currently there are only about 3-4 ports capable of receiving such ships. In 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is requested to pay attention to solving and removing investment in fisheries infrastructure in general. Besides, in terms of human resources for fisheries exploitation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to propose the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to have policies to attract, create human resources and build large ships that need high quality manpower." Mr. Trung emphasized.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong assessed: In 2018, the fisheries sector has made efforts, overcome challenges, focused on completing basic tasks. In 2019, in order to achieve the goals set by the industry, the General Department of Fisheries needs to continue to reform the institutional system; review and reevaluate and organize the formation of sustainable fisheries, towards integration. “Shrimp and fish have achieved results but the issue is whether they have been sustainable, deep and effective or not. Further research is needed to create higher added value for these key products," said Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong.

According to the General Department of Fisheries: seafood export in 2018 reached about 9 billion USD, increasing by 8.4% compared to 2017. In which, pangasious reached 2.26 billion USD, up by 26.4%; shrimp reached 3.58 billion USD; tuna reached 785 million USD; other fish reached 1.52 billion USD; mollusk reached 785 million USD ...

Notably, not only impressive export growth, in 2018, but pangasius also recorded a remarkable growth in farming area when reaching 5,400 ha (up 3.3% compared to 2017). ); output of 1.42 million tons, an increase of 8.4% compared to 2017. In 2018, the fisheries sector organized to replace 30 thousand brood-stock fish, enhancing breeding selection. Therefore, the quality of pangasius seed has been gradually improved; the production of hatchery and commercial pangasius has been basically controlled to prevent the massive expansion of spontaneous fish farming area from 2017