Branding Ocean Tuna

Quy Nhon Fishing Port in Binh Dinh province was full of people after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday was over. Dozens of offshore fishing vessels quickly loaded up fuel, foods, ice and other materials to set out a new seagoing trip. All boats caught a lot of fish. A ship owner enjoyed a profit of VND50 - 100 million and each fisherman is given VND6 - 10 million. More than 400 boats out of over 500 tuna-catching boats in Hoai Nhon district (Binh Dinh) with above 5,000 fishermen spent their New Year time at sea.

 

Fisherman Phan Van Cang in Hoai Huong commune, Hoai Nhon district, Binh Dinh province, said excitedly: “Many are shocked at our tuna catching. Our ship started the trip a week before the Tet and returned one week after the Tet, catching over a tonne of tuna and nearly 3 tonnes of cuttle-fish. I enjoy a net profit of more than VND60 million and a fisherman is paid at least VND6 million. We also had a very good journey before that.”

 

Phu Yen province, which is known as the ‘capital’ of ocean tuna fishing, had more than 400 offshore fishing vessels and they spent their Tet time at sea. To date, over 100 ocean tuna fishing vessels have returned to Dong Tac fishing port and Ward 6 port in Tuy Hoa City.

 

Mr Bien Minh Tam, Director of Phu Yen Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "Most ships caught of 0.8 - 1.5 tonnes of ocean tuna on the first return in the new year. A ship owner earns VND80 - 120 million each trip while a fisherman is paid VND6 - 10 million.

 

Tuna is also a hot pick in the central coastal region. Thus, prices are quite high, ranging from VND115,000 to VND170,000 per kilo.

 

Ocean tuna is defined as one of three key seafood exports beside catfish and shrimp by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. According to the Vietnam Tuna Association, tuna reserves in Vietnam’s waters exceed 50,000 tonnes and annual output of 17,000 tonnes is with reach. Each year, fishermen in Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa catch 10,000 tonnes of tuna, of which Phu Yen contributes over 5,000 tonnes. Most Vietnam’s tuna is exported to Japan, Taiwan, the United States, Australia and the European Union. However, Vietnamese ocean tuna is traded under foreign labels in the world market.

 

In mid-2011, the Phu Yen province-based Vinh Sam Co., Ltd set up a joint venture with five Japanese investors to process and export ocean tuna to foreign markets. They also pledged to develop a trademark for Phu Yen ocean tuna.

 

Ms Trinh Thi Ngoc Sam, Director of Vinh Sam Co., Ltd, said: By the end of February, the Japanese side plans to bring a boat to Phu Yen to purchase tuna from fishermen, with free rental of the boat for the first two years. The purchasing price of tuna depends on its quality and ranges between US$12-20 per kilo.

 

The joint venture aims to be fully operational in March 2012 and expects to export around 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes of tuna annually to foreign markets.