WWF Search for Catfish Sustainable Development

Catfish producers and buyers, investors and organizations from around the world have met together at a workshop in HCM City to set sustainable standards for catfish products, state media reported.

 

The two-day event starting on September 26 is among the six workshops by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) with a view to identifying environmental and social impacts related to the farming of tra and basa, the two key species of catfish, or pangasius, to give their scientific name.

 

The meeting titled Pangasius Aquaculture Dialogue is held for the first time in Vietnam with up to 90 per cent of the world’s catfish farming occurs.

 

The participants will set credible, measurable and voluntary standards to minimize the key impacts.

 

“We are excited about starting this process,” said Dr. Flavio Corsin, WWB senior aquaculture advisor.

 

“Pangasius farming is one of the fastest growing types of aquaculture in the world. It is critical to minimize its farming’s impacts on the environment and society, while accommodating the market demand for this type of fish,” he added.

 

Ngo Phuoc Hau, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), suggested ten measures to ensure the sustainable development of catfish farming in Vietnam from now to 2010.

 

He said producers should decide names for different kinds of pangasius to avoid lawsuits, while building up standards for both products and production. He called for close cooperation between farmers, processors and exporters.

 

Hau also stressed the importance of improving quality of fish strains, the use of feed, vaccines, technology, and strengthening the national trademark, delivery systems as well as human resources.

 

Global catfish output increased from 10,000 tons in 1995 to 440,000 tons in 2005, according to figures provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization. The rapid growth raises concerns over the sustainability of catfish aquaculture products, particularly from an environmental and social standpoint.

 

Vietnam exports the fish to 80 countries worldwide, mainly in the form of white filet.