Vietnam wants Russia to delay aquaculture inspection
VIETNAM - The National Fisheries Quality and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved) has requested Russian authorities to delay their plan to inspect Vietnam’s aquaculture establishments until March.

Agriculture programme fights sector’s setbacks in HCM City
HO CHI MINH CITY - The Agricultural Economic Restructuring Programme has helped HCM City’s agricultural sector maintain growth despite the year’s difficulties.

Tra, basa prices hit records
VIET NAM - Tra and basa prices have been staying firm at record high levels over the last two weeks – at more than VND15,000 per kilogramme.

Vietnam catfish producer to hit stock market
HO CHI MINH CITY - Navico, one of Vietnam's largest tra catfish producers and processors, plans to make an initial public offering of shares and list on the Ho Chi Minh City exchange in the first quarter of this year.

Vietnam Gov cracks down on chemicals in seafood
VIETNAM - The use of banned chemicals and antibiotics in the production and processing of seafood for export must be more strictly regulated, according to a decision issued by the Prime Minister.

High growth in tra and basa catfish export
VIET NAM - Viet Nam estimated exported 210,000 tonnes of "tra" and "basa" catfish in 2006, fetching US$560 million, according to the Ministry of Fisheries.

Not all Vietnamese farmers are poor!
MEKONG RIVER DELTA - At a remote Tan Loc Islet on the Mekong River Delta locked on all sides by the Hau (Bassac) River in southern Can Tho City’s Thot Not district, three farmers are leisurely having coffee on a pavement on morning when their subject...

Viet Nam clamps down on toxins in seafood
VIET NAM - Collecting, preserving, processing and trading seafood materials and products that contain toxins harmful to human health may result in fines from VND15-20mil ($1,250) reports Ha Yen on VietNamNet Bridge.

Viet Nam Catfish exports soar
VIET NAM — The Viet Nam tra and basa catfish industry saw record export earnings of US$661 million this year, twice as much as last year’s figure ($328 million), said the Ministry of Fisheries.

Russia to inspect Vietnam catfish processing units
VIET NAM - The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) said Monday that Russian agencies would inspect all Vietnamese firms processing catfish for export to Russia.

Mekong Delta seafood farmers could do better
VIET NAM - Seafood exports fetched Viet Nam more than US$3 billion, contributing a significant portion of the country’s total exports of almost $40 billion reports Thuy Anh for VNS.

Vietnam catfish exports go through the roof
VIET NAM - The Vietnamese Ministry of Fisheries said Thursday that catfish exports would more than double to a record US$661 million this year.

Seafood seeks brand name recognition
VIET NAM - Deputy Minister of Fisheries Nguyen Thi Hong Minh said yesterday that the ministry had identified the creation of a national brand as a priority for the sustainable development of the Vietnamese seafood industry.

Vietnam apologizes for contaminated shrimp exports to Japan
VIETNAM - A Ministry of Fisheries’ agency has sent a letter of apology to Japanese partners for antibiotic-contained shrimp exports to Japan, also reporting the causes of the contamination.

Vietnamese shrimp exporters may lose Japanese market
VIETNAM – Not only cuttle-fish dealers, but shrimp exporters are also facing the risk of losing the Japanese market if Japanese authorities decide to prohibit imports from Vietnam.

Huge investment in seafood nursery
VIETNAM - The Ministry of Fisheries has approved a project on fish fry nursing with a planned investment of nearly 50 billion VND.

Vietnamese Agriculture Needs Greater Support
VIETNAM - Professor Mai Thanh Phung from the southern division of the National Agricultural Promotion Centre spoke with Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) about sustainable agronomy.

Vietnam outlines measures to assist farmers in post-WTO era
VIETNAM - Investment in science-technology and personnel training would be the key to sharpen the competitive edge of farming production after Vietnam joins the WTO, the agriculture minister told Vietnam house Friday.

Ministry seeks ban on use of harmful antibiotics in aquaculture
VIETNAM - Fisheries Minister Ta Quang Ngoc is asking the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s permission to ban the import and circulation of antibiotics and chemicals containing internationally prohibited antibiotics.

VASEP calls to say ‘no’ to dirty shrimp
VIETNAM - The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has called on shrimp processors and exporters to refuse to collect shrimp material with unclear sources.

Vietnam ranks sixth among top ten aqua-producers
VIETNAM - Vietnam ranks sixth among the world’s top ten aquaculture producers, according to a report released recently by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Breeding programmes ill prepped for WTO entry
VIETNAM - Viet Nam’s breeding industry must overcome high production prices and unstable quality if it is to develop as the country joins the World Trade Organisation, according to industry official Nguyen Dang Vang.