Even though the plan to export puffer fish has proved a failure, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development still seems keen to promote the industry.
Puffer fish at Phuoc Tho Company
The government banned exploiting, processing and trading in puffer fish in 2003 after a number of deaths were caused by improper processing. But many Vietnamese still trade the fish illegally and the fish also has high commercial value. Importers from Japan, South Korea and China have all expressed interest in buying the fish from Vietnam.
Several years ago, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Hai Phong and Kien Giang provinces were chosen as pilot provinces that were allowed to catch, process and export puffer fish to South Korea. The VND2bn project was expected to generate 1,000 jobs but the results are disappointing so that the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality proposed an end to the project.
The main reasons for the failure of the project were unstable fish yields and poor quality of the catches. Vietnam was able to export just 112.6 tonnes while the project targeted an ambitious 6,300 to 6,720 tonnes. Only Khanh Hoa Province wants to continue the project.
Nguyen Quoc Bao Anh, director of Phuoc Tho Company, raised another concern, saying that Vietnamese companies were lowering their prices so low to the point of getting no profits. "We still receive orders from South Korean partners so I want to continue the business and find ways to improve the prices to ensure profits to both firms and farmers."
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam said even though the project had failed in economic terms, it showed positive results in social aspect as people's awareness about puffer fish classifying and processing had been raised. While the project was being carried out, there were no reports about puffer fish poisoning.
"As we are catching 100 tonnes of puffer fish per month, where will this amount of fish go to if we maintain the ban?" he said.
Khanh Hoa’s authorities said puffer fish were becoming a specialty and many people expressed the desire to open puffer fish restaurant if the ban was lifted.
Tam said he would create favourable condition for export firms to continue business and tighten a grips on food management to prevent poisoning. "The sector will co-operate with the Ministry of Health to decide on a safe level of toxin," Tam said.
