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Central provinces increase tuna exports
The central coastal provinces have dramatically increased their tuna export turnover in recent years by buying more powerful boats and better equipment.
The provinces of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa, where most of the country’s tuna is caught offshore, began this type of fishing in 1995.
The quantity increased to 34,000 tonnes last year compared to 22,000 tonnes in 2005.
Tuna export revenue also increased to 102 million USD last year from 57 million USD in 2005.
Nguyen Huu Hao, chairman of Binh Dinh province’s Tuna Association, said fishermen in the central coastal provinces have spent more money on vessels and ice making facilities to improve the quality of preservation.
The recent decision of the Government to offer more financial support to fishermen has also helped.
As of June, Binh Dinh province had a total of 704 vessels engaging in tuna catching, which have an engine capacity of 45-174 HP each, while Phu Yen province has 1,000 vessels.
Khanh Hoa province has only 104 vessels but its vessels have engine capacities of up to 400 HP.
At the end of last month, the National Department of Fisheries Resource Protection organised a five-day training course for fishermen in Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa.
To improve export turnover, the provinces’ tuna associations say they will create buying and processing tuna facilities near the sea where exports can then be directly shipped overseas.
The Vietnam Tuna Association, which will represent tuna fishermen, processors and exports, will be set up in August.
It will help fishermen, processors and exporters to understand regulations on protecting and managing highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean .
The regulations were created by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which manages the East Sea area where Vietnamese fishermen catch tuna.
Last December, the Ministry of Industry and Trade told government agencies to petition the Government to develop regulations that follow the commission.
Since 2008, some countries, including Spain and Portugal , have not allowed the import of tuna and swordfish products from these countries, including Vietnam , that are not members of the commission.
VNN
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