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Vietnam has applied the sustainable aquaculture criteria under the Code of Conduct (CoC) set by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO). This means the country has met the criteria set by other organisations like the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

 Immediately after Vietnamese Tra fish (pangasius) was removed from the WWF’s Red List where it was placed based on outdated data on Tra fish breeding in Vietnam in 2009, it will become easier for the fish to be put on the WWF’s list of sustainable aquaculture products if 50 percent of exported Vietnamese Tra fish gain the Aquatic Stewardship Council (ASC) certified label. Many people wonder whether Vietnamese Tra fish being put in the Red List was the WWF’s preemptive attack before forcing seafood businesses to use the ASC label?

 Tra fish farmers unaware of ASC label

 When asked the ASC standard, Tra fish farmers in Tien Giang, An Giang, Dong Thap and Can Tho all replied that they had never heard of it. Recently, many Tra breeders have applied international standards such as the Global Good Agricultural Practices GAP (Global GAP) and Safe Quality Food (SQF) to meet the requirements of most international markets, even the most demanding ones. Currently, Vietnamese Tra farmers, even experienced ones, are unaware of the ASC standard raised by the WWF.

Nguyen Huu Nghia, a Tra farmer in Tien Giang said in a depressed voice “All the international standards for Tra fish breeding are like a labyrinth. Previously, An Giang and Dong Thap organised courses about SQF standards for thousands of farmers and Tien Giang applied the SQF 1000 standard for a 25 ha- breeding area in 2009 and is expected to further develop this model. In 2010, I heard that the agricultural sector was recommending the Global GAP standard, which has been widely used in Europe, but now there is the ASC standard.”

Nguyen Tu Cuong, standing member of the Vietnam Fisheries Society (Vinafish), said Vietnamese Tra businesses and farmers are in trouble with a series of certificates without being unaware of which organisation or agency they belong to. In Cuong’s opinion, certificates such as SGS, ASC and SQF have no bearing on global consumers. In fact, they are guidelines for certain food businesses. However, due to our failure to collect the full information, we have mistakenly understood that they are compulsory standards for global products, Cuong noted.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Mekong Delta provinces, many fish breeders and businesses protested the ASC standard which, they said, is unnecessary.

At present, Tra fish breeding areas under the Global GAP and SQF standards have met the demands of many countries in the world so the compulsory ASC application is not needed.

Expense- a burden for farmers

Agricultural experts say, in fact, the fisheries and aquaculture in Vietnam has abided by the safety regulations for breeding areas and applied many international standards such as SQF, GLOBAL GAP, CoC and BMP (Better Management Practices). All Tra fish products are subject to these standards and large volumes have been exported to more than 130 countries and territories around the world and represent big export earnings. This shows that if the WWF’s ASC standard is not applied, Vietnamese tra products will still meet the requirements for environmental protection and food hygiene and safety which are recognised by global consumers.

The compulsory compliance with certifications from non-governmental, social and professional organisations around the world has cost Vietnamese Tra farmers and businesses considerable expense.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by WWF and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and Vinafish, the WWF has agreed to removed Vietnamese Tra fish from the Red List based on the following targets for Vietnamese fish breeders. In 2011-2012, Vietnam will strive to ensure 25 percent of its Tra fish exports meet all international standards for sustainable development and 10 percent will be certified with the Aquatic Stewardship Council (ASC) label. By 2014, Vietnam is set to have 75 percent of its exported tra meet the international standard for sustainable Tra aquaculture, including 30 percent with the ASC label. By 2015, all Vietnamese Tra exports will meet international standards for the sustainable development of Tra fish and half will have the ASC label.

It costs approximately US$7,500 per to be granted the ASC label for a 5 ha breeding area. That price is as high as for the Global GAP. Consequently, to get the ASC label for 3,000 ha of Tra breeding area under the roadmap signed by 2015 (Total Tra breeding area of the whole country is 6,000 ha), we have to pay more than US$22 million annually and of course, farmers and consumers will incur the expense.

Be consistent before unfair requirements

According to agricultural experts, WWF’s removal of Vietnamese Tra fish from its Red list and its the MoU signing with VASEP and Vinafish on the ASC application is an intentional scheme. The WWF has intentionally used groundless reports about breeding situation in the country to put Vietnamese Tra fish onto its Red List and force Tra breeders and businesses to apply the ASC standard.

Mr Cuong said ASC regulations are based on standard criteria under the CoC. Therefore, in terms of nature, there is no difference between these two standards.

Many people assumed that even though it will take at least six months to collect opinions and introduce the ASC standard to Vietnamese Tra breeders. It will be up to the fish breeders to decide whether or not to apply the ASC standard.

But, if the ASC is boycotted it will be difficult to anticipate the future consequences if the WWF continues to abuse its recommendation rights. If the standard is accepted, other non-governmental organisations will follow along and set more “unnecessary” regulations for aquaculture, Mr Cuong noted.

“We must be consistent and we can’t keep following unfair recommendations made by the WWF. Its move only aims to “strike down” our Tra fish,” Le Chi Binh, Vice Chairman of the An Giang Fisheries Association emphasised. 

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