Khanh Hoa destroys nearly 850,000 lobsters of unknown origin

On May 21, Khanh Hoa Provincial Police said that since the beginning of 2024, the authorities have detected and handled 13 violations related to lobster seeds, including 1 case of criminal prosecution and 12 cases of administrative fines with a total amount of nearly 900 million VND. Notably, nearly 850,000 lobster seeds of unknown origin have been destroyed, with an estimated value of nearly 34 billion VND.

Báo Sài Gòn Giải phóng•21/05/2025

Particularly, from March 31 to April 8, 2025, the authorities discovered 8 cases of illegal transportation, seizing about 512,500 lobster seeds. Previously, on May 9, 2024, nearly 76,000 lobster seeds were discovered being illegally transported through Cam Ranh International Airport; the case has been prosecuted and is under further investigation.

Authorities inspect a lobster hatchery in Cam Ranh City, March 31, 2025. Photo: CACC

Khanh Hoa Provincial Police assessed that the situation of smuggling and illegal transportation of lobster seeds from abroad into the province recently has become complicated, posing a potential risk of spreading disease and poor quality shrimp, seriously affecting shrimp farmers, causing great losses to people and causing loss of tax revenue.

According to statistics, the whole Khanh Hoa province currently has about 100,000 lobster cages, with an annual output of more than 3,000 tons, of which Cam Ranh City alone accounts for 70,000 - 80,000 cages, with an output of over 2,600 tons/year.

Collected information shows that the source of lobster seeds is mainly imported from countries in the region and transported by various means, but mainly by air. Some others are transferred through airports of neighboring countries and then transported by road to Vietnam, brought to the provinces, but most are concentrated in Cam Ranh City (Khanh Hoa Province).

Through comparison, the number of legally imported lobster seeds, quarantined, bred, and managed according to regulations is very small compared to the number of lobster seeds traded from the market. "Due to large profits, many organizations and individuals do not comply or do not fully comply with legal regulations," Khanh Hoa Provincial Police acknowledged.

It is forecasted that in the coming time, the demand of people to buy lobster seeds will be very large because in the breeding season, the price of lobster seeds will increase. Accordingly, the smuggling and illegal transportation of lobster seeds across the border and the business of shrimp seeds of unknown origin, violating regulations on breeding of seeds will become more complicated.

tomhum giong.jpg — Lobster fry of unknown origin are raised at a facility. Photo: CACC

Faced with this situation, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province has issued a document directing the Department of Agriculture and Environment and related departments and branches to strengthen inspection and strict control at airports, seaports, quarantine facilities and commercial farming sites. The goal is to promptly detect and strictly handle acts of smuggling, trading and illegal transportation of lobster seeds in the province.

HIEU GIANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khanh-hoa-tieu-huy-gan-850000-con-tom-hum-giong-khong-ro-nguon-goc-post796204.html