Recently, the General Department of Customs (Ministry of Finance) requested local customs officials to strengthen control of crayfish.

The document stated that recently, the press reported that authorities discovered smuggled crayfish for consumption in the Vietnamese market.

In order to promptly prevent and strictly manage the import of crayfish (Procambarus clarki) to protect the environment and avoid negative impacts on agricultural production, the General Department of Customs requests the customs departments of provinces and cities to direct customs branches and customs control teams to coordinate with state management agencies to strengthen measures to inspect and strictly control the import of crayfish.

Along with that, promptly combat and prevent acts of illegal transportation of these items into Vietnam.

The General Department of Customs also cited Clause 7, Article 7 and Article 50 of the Law on Biodiversity No. 20/2008/QH12, which stipulates prohibited acts regarding biodiversity, including the import and development of invasive alien species (including known invasive alien species and alien species at risk of being invasive).

Tom Hum Dat
Crayfish are sold everywhere on online markets. Screenshot

Pursuant to Appendix IV issued with Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP dated April 4, 2024 of the Government amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP dated March 8, 2019 detailing a number of articles on measures to implement the Law on Fisheries, crayfish (Procambarus clarki) is not on the list of aquatic species permitted for business in Vietnam; Pursuant to Circular No. 35/2018/TT-BTNMT dated December 28, 2018 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Procambarus clarki is on the list of invasive alien species.

Previously, VietNamNet reported that crayfish from China were flooding into Vietnamese markets for sale at VND360,000-400,000/kg. The vendors selling this type of crayfish all claimed that they were still alive and well, and could survive a whole day on land without water, but could survive a whole week in a water tank.

This type of shrimp is considered a scary 'sea monster' for the agricultural industry. Many countries have regretted and paid a high price for bringing this shrimp to raise.

However, traders still import and sell regardless, while buyers eat them without knowing that these are alien creatures that are banned from being imported and sold in our country.

Alien creatures from China flood Vietnamese markets, still in high demand Despite being an alien creature that threatens the agricultural sector, these days, Chinese crayfish have flooded Vietnamese markets. Notably, the price of this type of lobster is quite expensive but still in high demand.
Scary 'sea monsters' flock to Vietnam, many countries have paid a high price . Crayfish - an alien creature from China - is flooding Vietnamese markets. This type of shrimp is considered a scary 'sea monster' for the agricultural industry. Many countries have regretted and paid a high price for bringing this shrimp to raise.