Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - In the difficult economic context caused by the novelcoronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exportersand Producers (VASEP) suggested tuna processors and exporters tap the domesticmarket.

Tuna exporters said that in case Vietnam had been able to control the pandemic,but it still existed in Europe and the US, the tuna export market wouldbe difficult and unstable.

In addition, tuna is an “expensive dish” at restaurants for people with highincomes but due to COVID-19, many have lost income, causing consumption todecrease even when the pandemic is controlled.

Nguyen Thị Thu Thanh, Director of Sustainable Seafood Limited Company in thesouthern province of Khanh Hoa, which exports tuna to the US market, said thatover the past month, the company purchased about 25-30 billion VND (1.06million-1.29 million USD) of raw materials but its export volume was about2-3 billion VND monthly.

Despite inventories, businesses still have to pay money to fishermen andinterest rates for banks.

They also have to suffer soaring electricity costs due to cold storage, whichadds a significant burden on costs for businesses.

Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, chairwoman of the seafood committee of VASEP, said thatViệt Nam was not only a major seafood exporter, but also a potentialconsumption market of many other countries.

The country has a system of restaurants and hotels for international anddomestic tourists; population in the age of high consumption; increasingincome, especially in urban areas, accompanied by the tendency to choose mealsoutside.

“All create a diversified seafood consumption market,” she said. “Therefore,tuna processors and exporters can exploit this potential.”

If we did not take advantage of the domestic market, consumers would chooseseafood imported from other countries, she added.

Facing this situation, in order to ensure tuna is consumed, localities withocean tuna fishing fleets have strengthened the consumption solution, helpingthe fishing and processing industry overcome the difficulties.

Specifically, the south-central province of Phu Yen has encouraged businessesto focus on promoting tuna products and boosting domestic consumption throughservice and tourism activities.

At the same time, the provincial People's Committee discourages fishermen fromincreasing the number of fishing vessels but concentrate on preservation stagesto improve the quality of tuna and boost domestic consumption.

Especially, a number of restaurants, hotels and large tourist areas of theprovince have regularly invited culinary experts to perform the demonstrationof slaughtering and processing of tuna to serve customers in the past year.

These activities have contributed to bring the provincial tuna specialty tomany domestic consumers, improving the value and brand of tuna.

Facing the current difficulties of the tuna fishing, processing and exportingindustry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposedmanagement agencies and associations to proactively develop scenarios ofagricultural and aquatic exports to meet the increasing demand of worldconsumers when the pandemic is over./.