Standardizing 'background information' for lobster export

Oversized shrimp, unprecedented low price

Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces are among the localities that have strongly developed marine farming, especially lobster. However, since August 2023, China has stopped granting licenses to import lobsters, causing this product to be stuck with no way out. Mr. Vo Van Thai, Director of Van Phong Aquaculture - Tourism Cooperative with 32 members, said: The cooperative is currently holding nearly 100 tons of lobster meat that cannot be exported due to lack of documents. This is causing many difficulties for members. "We propose that relevant units work with the Chinese side to complete the paperwork as soon as possible so that lobsters can be exported as soon as possible," Mr. Thai suggested.

Lobster farmers in Van Phong Bay (Van Ninh District, Khanh Hoa) are worried because lobsters cannot be exported to China.

According to many lobster farmers in the Central provinces, previously, lobsters weighing only about 500 grams were sold for about 1.7 - 1.8 million VND/kg. However, since August, traders have stopped buying because they could not export, so the price has dropped to less than 1 million VND/kg. After about 4 months of backlog, lobsters weighing 500 - 600 grams have increased to 900 grams - 1 kg. The larger the weight, the more difficult it is to export because the Chinese market requires small-sized lobsters.

On November 26, according to a survey by Thanh Nien at several large seafood trading systems in Ho Chi Minh City, the retail price of live lobsters weighing 500 - 700 grams is 1.35 million VND/kg, fresh (frozen) is 700,000 VND/kg. Live lobsters weighing 1 - 1.2 kg are priced at about 1.85 million VND/kg, fresh lobsters are only 800,000 VND/kg. Sales staff at these systems said that seafood consumption since the beginning of the year has decreased by 15 - 20% compared to normal. Lobster prices in particular have decreased by about 35%, although the current retail price is 35 - 40% lower than last year. The reason is that this item has high value while the economic situation is difficult, so many people limit spending.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, Director of Thanh Nhon Seafood and General Trading Company Limited (HCMC), one of the largest lobster exporting enterprises in Vietnam, said: The consolation is that China only stopped importing flower lobsters, but green lobsters are still allowed. On November 25, Thanh Nhon Company exported 2 shipments, bringing the total number of exports this month to 8 shipments. However, Ms. Thu admitted that the amount of goods consumed is very slow, only about 20% compared to previous years. Changing the market is not simple because up to now, almost all routes of lobsters such as through Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan ... have all been to China. Although exporting officially, there are still many difficulties. China often changes requirements on packaging and external product information, making businesses very difficult and confused.

Mr. Le Ba Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Quality - Processing - Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), informed: China accounts for 98 - 99% of Vietnam's lobster export market share; other markets such as Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan only account for 1 - 2%. However, since May 2023, China has issued a law on wildlife protection and a list of wildlife species that need to be protected, and spiny lobsters are on this list. By August 2023, the export of spiny lobsters was suspended due to strict control of imported naturally caught spiny lobsters by customs at border gates. In addition, Vietnam has 46 lobster packaging facilities licensed by China, but no farming areas have codes.

Need to reorganize properly

Mr. Tran Hoa Nam, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, stated the reality: Marine farming activities in Khanh Hoa in particular and Vietnam in general are currently mainly nearshore farming on a small scale, with traditional wooden cage materials that are low in durability, unstable, and use fresh food... This leads to a number of difficulties such as causing environmental pollution and overlapping with the use of water surface area with other economic sectors. Seed management is not really effective, leading to difficulties in management and traceability.

Oversized lobsters await consumption in domestic market

According to the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), by the end of 2018, the allocation of marine areas for aquaculture was basically implemented in accordance with the provisions of the 2003 Fisheries Law and the 2003 Land Law. This is an important basis for developing aquaculture area codes for the aquaculture sector. However, data reported by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of coastal localities shows that by the end of December 2022, the allocation of marine areas for aquaculture was still slow, and almost all localities had not yet allocated any marine areas for aquaculture. Many organizations and individuals in need of allocating marine areas for aquaculture, such as Quang Ninh province with 1,354 organizations/individuals, Khanh Hoa province with 1,467, and Ninh Thuan province with 105, have used them but have not been assigned marine areas according to the provisions of law. This affects investment in expanding production, business and marine farming, leading to budget losses and affecting state management of seas and islands.

Looking at it from a positive perspective, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai Binh, General Director of STP Group - Super Truong Phat, said: "We should accept the current difficult reality as a pause, taking this opportunity to reinvest from the beginning in the value chain for long-term development in the future. Instead of traditional cages, we should research and learn from international experience to deploy a pilot model of lobster farming with modern technology combined with experiential tourism. We should research and introduce the HDPE plastic cage lobster farming model. Although this model is of high value, it is a smart solution and a common trend in the world."

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien affirmed: Vietnam has great potential and advantages to develop marine aquaculture. In the plan, from now until 2030, we strive to achieve an output of 1.45 million tons. However, if the identified difficulties and challenges are not promptly resolved, those potentials and advantages will not be fully exploited. On that basis, Mr. Tien suggested that relevant units continue to prioritize investment in upgrading marine aquaculture infrastructure. Ministries, branches and localities urgently develop plans and regulations on sea surface allocation, creating favorable conditions for businesses and people to confidently invest and develop. Promote scientific research activities, focusing on improving capacity, quality of breeds, farming processes, nutrition, disease prevention, etc.

Lobster breeding is 9/12 steps complete.

Mr. Vo Van Nha, Deputy Director of the Institute of Aquaculture and Fisheries 3, said: Currently, no country in the world has successfully produced commercial lobster breeds. Research on lobster breeds is a state-level project being implemented by the Institute. Currently, the research team has created lobster larvae up to stage 9 with a rearing time of over 120 days. According to documents, these larvae need 150 days to become white lobsters with 12 stages to become commercial breeds. There are 2 reasons why lobster larvae have not reached stage 10: First, it could be due to special nutritional needs when the larvae molt. Second, it could be due to the impact of water quality and the environment of the rearing tank after 120 days. However, the encouraging sign is that the survival rate of larvae is currently quite high, up to 0.5%; while the condition of the project is only 0.001%. "We hope to resolve the remaining issues within the next year," Mr. Nha expected.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/chuan-hoa-ly-lich-de-xuat-khau-tom-hum-185231126213220105.htm