Mekong Delta seeks ways for greener Tra fish industry

At the conference, the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department introduced to participants Vietnam’s set of standards on frozen tra fish filets and the US’s guidelines on catfish inspection programme.

Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), presented an overview on Vietnam’s tra fish export, export barriers and solutions to these problems.

He recommended a need to issue certificates for goods traded through borders and to publicise information on China’s food safety standards and quarantine regulations.

In order to build a sustainable Tra fish industry, VASEP urged sides involved to focus on improving production management, expanding the market and diversifying products.

Enterprises were suggested to build brands and promote trade, while localities with concentrated tra fish farming areas were asked to invest in environmental examination, disease prevention, and materials quality.  

The Government has issued Decree 55/2017/ND-CP, which consists of specific regulations on registering identification number for ponds farming tra fish and regulations on quality and food safety for commercial tra fish products.

According to the Directorate of Fisheries, tra fish farms in Vietnam currently span 3,100 hectares in total.

As of June 15, Vietnam shipped over 582 million USD worth of tra fish products overseas, up 2.7 percent year on year.