Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s seafood export turnover in July reached 564 million USD, a drop of 2.2 percent over June, pushing the total figure in t🐷he first seven months of this year to 3.65 billion USD, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The US, Japan, China and the Republic of Korea were the four leading markets for Vietnamese seafood, while the highest surge was seen in the Chinese market with 55.1 percent, followed by the US with 11 percent, Thailand, 7.7 percent and the Netherlands, 7.3 percent. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) stressed the need to strengthen food safety control on seafood for export as well as assess and classify import enterprises to be prioritised in quarantine exemption and reduction. At the same time, it is necessary to evaluate the effects of saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta region to apply measures to balance three factors: the breeding season, production varieties and feed production, the association advised. The VASEP also underscored the need for investment and support in offshore fishing and storage to increase productivity and profits for fishermen and provide sufficient materials for export, together with enhancing trade promotion and seeking new markets. Meanwhile, the catch in the first seven months of this year was estimated at 1.776 million tonnes, a rise of 2.7 percent year on year, including 1.676 million tonnes of offshore fish, a rise of 2.8 percent, and 100,000 tonnes of inland freshwater fish. Aquatic farm production in the period reached 1.97 million tonnes, an increase of 1.3 percent. Added to the figure from fishing, the total aquatic output of the country was 3.741 million tonnes, up 1.9 percent year on year. However, Typhoon Mirinae in late July destroyed 8,756 hectares of aquatic farms with 12,763 fish pens. To fulfil its set targets, in August, the sector will continue keeping a close eye on weather development for timely adjustments to production, re-organising production at sea, and fostering cooperation and the application of science and technology.-VNA