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Firms seek to import raw fish
The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers has sought permission from the Government to import raw fish, shrimp, and other creatures for processing to fulfil export orders.
It said the move is necessitated by a huge shrimp and fish supply shortfall in Viet Nam.
Most of the affected processors are in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, with April and May expected to be the worst months for them since local farmers are yet to begin their main harvest, the Bac Lieu Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said.
In April, Bac Lieu’s output was just 7,000 tonnes, including 2,767 tonnes of shrimp, far below the combined capacity of the 12 processing plants in the province.
In Ca Mau Province, which has 50 processors, the output was just 15,000 tonnes.
As a result, most of the plants in Bac Lieu are operating at 40-50 per cent capacity, and at 50-60 per cent in Ca Mau.
The main reason for the shortage is the recent switch by shrimpers in Ca Mau, Soc Trang, and Bac Lieu to industrial and semi-industrial farming.
But the high investment required for modern technologies means many farmers cannot afford these models.
VietNamNet, vietnamnews
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