Building a value chain - an inevitable solution for the seafood industry

Urgent request

In reality, the current situation of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing not only depletes aquatic resources, but also seriously affects the reputation and ability to export Vietnamese aquatic products. Therefore, together with the whole country, Lam Dong province has identified the development and implementation of a plan to organize aquatic product exploitation production according to the value chain associated with combating IUU fishing as a necessary and urgent solution to create a source of clean raw materials for processing and export in the province. Thereby, contributing to enhancing the reputation of Vietnamese aquatic products in the international market. This is not only a temporary solution to overcome immediate difficulties in combating IUU fishing but also a long-term strategy. The purpose is to create a solid foundation for sustainable, stable development and deep integration of the province's aquatic products industry.

Recently, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province has established a Steering Committee and professional groups to support and guide production fleets according to the value chain at Phan Thiet and Phu Hai fishing ports, including 25 members. In particular, focusing on propaganda and mobilizing fishermen to participate in the chain. As a result, the professional group at the designated fishing port of Phan Thiet has mobilized 22 vessels to participate in the chain, providing 132.13 tons of clean raw materials, level 10 SC. Particularly, the professional group at the designated fishing port of Phu Hai has mobilized 41 vessels (by length group and occupation group) to participate in the chain, providing 68.1 tons of clean raw materials, level 5 SC for 2 export processing enterprises, Hai Nam and HaiWang.

Deep processing of seafood at the enterprise

Clean raw materials in the value chain associated with combating IUU fishing are aquatic raw materials that are exploited and managed according to a strict, transparent process, ensuring legality and sustainability. Therefore, currently, awareness of the urgency of complying with the law in building and implementing a value chain to create "clean" raw materials for seafood processing and export has been raised in the fishing community. This is demonstrated through the initiative of ship owners and captains in complying with regulations on combating IUU fishing. Building a value chain helps aquatic products have a clear and transparent origin. Captains, purchasing facility owners and exporting enterprises have paid more attention to recording information from the exploitation to processing stages. Thereby, creating favorable conditions for traceability, creating a source of clean raw materials for processing and export.

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In the coming time, we need to unify our awareness and actions to achieve the dual goals. That is, focusing on combating IUU fishing, being proactively ready to welcome the EC inspection team to Vietnam, and working with the whole country to resolve the goal of removing the “yellow card”. At the same time, we need to focus on promoting the development of the value chain of exploited seafood, creating clean raw materials for processing and export, contributing to completing the seafood export target in 2025 and developing sustainable fisheries.
Mr. Nguyen Van Chien - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province

However, in reality, participation in value chain activities is not uniform. A small number of ship owners, although aware of the meaning and importance of the value chain, do not participate due to concerns. Some purchasing facilities and exporting enterprises have not been proactive in mobilizing fishermen to comply with regulations against IUU fishing. Another important factor is that the infrastructure at fishing ports, especially small-scale fishing ports, has not met the requirements for control, supervision and unloading of products according to the value chain.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Trinh - in charge of the quality management department of HaiWang Seafood Company Limited (Phan Thiet Ward): The enterprise has participated in the chain for 3 months. Thereby, it has created favorable conditions for export by being able to buy clean raw materials from wholesalers participating in the chain, proactively sourcing clean raw materials. However, the current difficulty is that the source of clean raw materials has not met the export demand, forcing the enterprise to reduce contracts.

A representative of Hai Nam Co., Ltd. (Phu Thuy Ward) also shared: Currently, the EU export market is very potential. However, the difficulty encountered is that the purchase of "clean" raw materials by enterprises does not meet the demand, forcing them to reduce export orders. Enterprises hope that state agencies will continue to support data on fishing vessels and brokers, creating favorable conditions for the recovery of seafood exports.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, spoke at the conference. — Mr. Nguyen Van Chien spoke at the recent conference on the fisheries sector.

Promote and expand the chain linkage

The seafood value chain is a set of activities from producers to final consumers, including the following actors: exploitation, preliminary processing, purchasing, processing, and consumption. These are the actors directly involved in the seafood value chain. Therefore, building and developing the seafood value chain is an inevitable trend in the integration process and an important factor in changing the growth model, helping to increase added value and sustainable development of the seafood industry.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chien - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province said: The issue of building a seafood value chain in exploitation is one of the very important tasks. Therefore, it is necessary to re-evaluate the implementation of the chain building, discuss solutions to promote development and expansion in the coming time. The chain building also aims to create a source of clean raw materials. In which, not only clean in terms of food safety, but also raw materials that do not violate IUU.

To achieve efficiency in implementing the value chain, the provincial agricultural sector said it will focus on improving institutions, strengthening management capacity and raising awareness and responsibility of relevant parties. In particular, organizing communication programs, educating the fishing community about the importance of complying with the law, the harm of IUU fishing and the benefits of participating in the value chain. At the same time, strengthening the review and resolutely handling fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate. At the same time, synchronously and effectively deploying the fishing vessel monitoring system using VMS equipment, ensuring that 100% of fishing vessels (subject to VMS installation) operating at sea are monitored 24/7.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province's annual seafood output reaches an average of over 230,000 tons, creating an important supply source and basically meeting part of the raw material demand for export processing activities of enterprises. In the period of 2021 - 2025, the provincial agricultural sector has mobilized about 160 enterprises, seafood production and trading establishments to participate in chain linkage. Thereby, 7 local seafood production, processing and consumption chains have been built with a controlled safe product output of 6,395 tons/year.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/xay-dung-chuoi-lien-ket-giai-phap-tat-yeu-cho-nganh-thuy-san-392408.html