Vietnam’s tra fish industry will achieve its target to certify 10% of its tra fish production under the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) standard by the end of 2012.
Tra fish processing
This achievement was recognised during an event entitled “Celebrating Vietnam’s Tra Fish Sector Achieving Responsible Production Target for 2012” on November 21 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Six companies including Vinh Hoan, Hung Vuong, NTACO, Hoang Long, Vinh Quang, and Anvifish, which are among the biggest tra fish producers in the Mekong Delta region, recently achieved ASC certification, which guarantees that fish are farmed in a responsible manner with minimal negative impact on the environment, farm staff and surrounding communities.
“These pioneering companies are setting an example for the entire industry. We hope that this could result in a major shift of the industry to responsible farming methods,” said Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
“Adopting responsible practices will also increase the future sustainability of the industry in Vietnam, securing income and employment for the long-term,” he emphasised.
In 2010, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), VASEP and the Vietnam Fisheries Society signed a cooperation agreement to support efforts to improve environmental and social responsibility in the tra fish industry in order to achieve ASC certification.
Concerned parties committed to supporting tra fish producers to achieve 100% certification of farmed tra fish production for export by 2015, with 10% certified ASC by next year and 50% by 2015.
About 30 of Vietnam’s biggest tra fish producers are receiving support from the parties in their efforts to achieve ASC certification. Supporters include WWF, VASEP, VINAFIS, together with the Sustainable Trade Initiative, the Netherlands Development Organisation, Anova and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
More than 90% of world exports of tra fish come from Vietnam. In 2011, Vietnam’s tra fish export value reached USD1.85 billion, representing 1% of GDP.
Vietnam produces 1.5 million metric tonnes of tra fish each year.
