Pangasius producers in Vietnam are on track to achieve their target to certify 10 percent of their exports under the Aquaculture Stewardship Council standard by the end of this year.
Under an agreement between the World Wildlife Fund, the Vietnam Fisheries Society and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the Vietnam pangasius industry in 2010 committed to having 100 percent of its farmed pangasius certified by 2015, with 50 percent of this under the ASC. WWF is working with 18 Vietnamese pangasius farms to help them comply with ASC standards.
Corporations including Vinh Hoan, Hung Vuong, NTACO and Hoang Long, recently achieved ASC certification and are among the biggest pangasius producers in the Mekong Delta. Vietnam is the source of more than 90 percent of pangasius exports, with the fish being sold to more than 130 countries globally.
“Farmed seafood already accounts for about half of all the fish and shellfish we eat. When done responsibly, aquaculture presents a solution to meeting the increasing food demand of a growing global population,” said Jose Villalon, WWF VP of aquaculture and ASC chairman. “WWF applauds producers in Vietnam who have achieved ASC certification and we are committed to working with industry leaders eager to embrace sustainability.”
“These pioneering companies are setting an example for the wider industry. If the market responds appropriately, a major shift of the industry to responsible farming methods will be triggered,” said Nguyen Huu Dzung, VASEP VP. “Adopting responsible practices will also increase the future sustainability of the industry in Vietnam, protecting income and employment for the long term.”
