Hanoi (VNA) – It is necessary to develop thefisheries sector based on three pillars of chain exploitation, processingaligned with the market and using science and technology to developaquaculture, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen XuanCuong.

He said seafood exploitation, preservation,processing and consumption should be based on demand of domestic and foreignmarkets, adding that fishing activities need to be re-organised.

Businesses should enhance processing to add valueto their products. Meanwhile, the latest scientific and technological advancesneed to be utilised to develop aquaculture.

Pointing out problems in the fisheries sector,the minister said fishing activities have only developed in quantity instead ofquality. While fishing vehicles and equipment are limited, seafoodclassification and preservation haven’t been done well.

The fisheries sector faces an array ofchallenges posed by climate change, international integration and the sector’srestructuring, Cuong added.

Data of the ministry’s Directorate of Fisheriesshow that aquatic exports reached 1.7 billion USD from January to March, up11.5 percent from the same period of 2017.

[Measures sought for fisheries sector’s sustainable development]

The US, Japan, China and the Republic of Koreawere the top importers of Vietnamese aquatic products in the first two monthsof 2018, accounting for 50.5 percent of Vietnam’s total aquatic exports.Notably, strong growth was recorded in shipments to the Netherlands (49.7 percent),Thailand (35.5 percent) and China (34.9 percent).

However, the fisheries sector encountered amajor challenge in March when the US decided to levy high anti-dumping dutieson shrimp and tra fish, two key export items of Vietnam. The directorate saidthis is a groundless decision and will cause difficulties for businesses sincethe US is a leading tra fish importer of Vietnam. Agencies are working to solvethis problem.

Regarding the European Commission (EC)’s “yellowcard” warning issued last September for Vietnam’s failure to progress infighting IUU fishing, Minister Cuong said the country has been taking actionsas suggested in the nine recommendations of the EC. It is striving to build afisheries sector of sustainable development that is responsible and adheres tointernational regulations.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Ha Cong Tuan said the EC agreed to send a delegation to assess thesituation in Vietnam in late April or early May so as to consider whether ornot the yellow card should be withdrawn.

Vietnam is satisfied with the strides it hasmade during the implementation of the EC’s recommendations recently. These arenot temporary solutions, and the country will keep working to develop a sustainablefisheries sector, he added.-VNA