At the recent Workshop on Solutions to strengthen the enforcement of legal policies on management of aquaculture, seafood processing and control of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Can Tho City, Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, said that fisheries remain a key economic sector with high export value. The Party and the Government are thoroughly invested in the fisheries sector with 3 Resolutions by the Party that focus on the economic development of fisheries, the Law on Fisheries and 14 documents guiding the implementation of existing Laws to establish a favorable legal corridor for the fisheries sector.

Consequently, Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Thuy emphasized that ministries, departments, branches, localities and businesses need to focus on whether the legal regulations are consistent with the practical situations, the major shortcomings as well as their causes in the fisheries sector. Moreover, it is recommended that units specify which regulations are not appropriate and need to be amended and supplemented, including standards and technical regulations for management.

According to the Directorate of Fisheries under theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the goal is that the annual growth rate of aquaculture production value will reach 3 - 4% by 2030, the total amount of aquatic products produced in the country will reach 9.8 million tons, the aquaculture production output will reach over 7 million tons, the fishery output will reach 2.8 million tons and the seafood export turnover will reach 14-16 billion USD, over 3.5 employment opportunities will be created for many workers.

With a vision towards 2045, the fisheries sector is a modern and sustainable economic and trade sector with advanced management, science and technology, a deep seafood processing center, and ranked amongst the group of three leading producers and exporters in the world.

According to the Directorate of Fisheries, the seafood processing industry has developed stronglyfrom 2018 to 2022, industrial seafood processing facilities have applied modern processing technology. There are currently more than 800 seafood processing establishments which are allowed to be exported to markets around the world. Nearly 700 of these establishments export to the EU market. The strict implementation of regulations has helped Vietnam's seafood to be favored by nearly 200 countries.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung, Deputy Director of the General Department of Fisheries, informed that the provisions of Vietnamese law on the management of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing are relatively complete and polished. Through two rounds of examination, field inspection in Vietnam and online meetings, the EC highly commended Vietnam's efforts in the transparency, seriousness as well as our progress in combating IUU fishing.

Vietnam has synchronously implemented solutions to implement the four groups of EC's recommendations on completing the legal framework, monitoring, inspecting and controlling fishing vessel activities and fleet management; certifying production and traceability of seafood from fishing and enforcing law.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam's seafood exports in the first seven months of 2022 have recorded a record high of 6.7 billion USD, an increase of 35% over the same period in 2021.

It is expected that seafood exports will surpass the 10 billion USD milestone for the first time this year, an increase of 12 - 15% compared to 2021, with shrimp and pangasius accounting for 6.5 billion USD. The goal is that seafood export growth will reach at least 12.5 billion USD by 2025, with shrimp export turnover reaching nearly 6 billion USD and surpassing India.

Deputy General Secretary Nguyen Hoai Nam reported that the current source of farming materials accounts for approximately 70% of raw materials for export processing. In addition to technology investment to increase the quality of farming output, the need to expand concentrated farming areas, including seed production areas, is necessary to increase raw materials for export processing and strengthen the management of farming conditions through the use of farming area codes.

Translated by Nguyen Hai Long