New tuna regulations leave Vietnamese fishermen suffering losses

Published 2024년 10월 21일

Tridge summary

In April, Vietnam implemented new fishing regulations affecting the tuna industry, causing a significant decline in skipjack tuna prices and financial losses for companies. Over 70 ship owners and the Vietnam Fisheries Society have requested amendments due to sustainability concerns. Despite these issues, authorities assert that the rules are scientifically justified and align with international efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, allowing a 15% margin for undersized fish. Vietnam, a leading tuna producer, has experienced a 65% rise in tuna exports to Russia in early 2024, with frozen tuna meat being the main export.

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Original content

The new rules were adopted in April. In September, Vietnamese media reported that this threatened the sustainability of the industry. At the same time, more than 70 ship owners from Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces filed a petition with the Ministry of Agriculture, calling on the authorities to amend the legislation. The Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS) also asked the ministry to adjust the rules and take into account the biological characteristics of fish caught in the country. Due to the new rules, prices for skipjack tuna have fallen by half, to $1.22 per kg. Many companies are incurring losses of $4,000 to $8,000 per trip because they cannot sell their catch. Canneries across the south central coast and the Mekong Delta have purchased tuna measuring 20-40 cm in length and weighing between 0.5 and 3.5 kg. But regulators have not issued them export certificates. Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Vietnam Fisheries Supervision Authority Le Tran Nguyen Hung said that the ...

Source: Fishretail