Agifish Gets Green Light to Produce Organic Fish

The Ministry of Fisheries has allowed the An Giang Seafood Import Export Joint Stock Company (Agifish) in the Mekong Delta region to establish a model for organic fish production in an effort to prevent the abuse of antibiotics in aquaculture.

 

General Director Ngo Phuoc Hau said that if the model is successful, the ministry would expand to other provinces and cities to raise seafood quality for export.

 

Key members of the model will be seafood processing companies and fish farms.

 

Farms will work in groups, with total output of 5,000-12,000 tons for each group and each member must reach output of at least 500 tons upwards.

 

Members will operate under the guidance and supervision of quality controllers to create a close process from breeding production to fish processing.

 

“Clients have the right to check all stages of production before signing contracts. They can also observe production potential and the origin of seafood of each member enterprise,” Hau said.

 

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), origin definition has become a new model for seafood producers internationally, becoming a main topic of discussion at a recent global shrimp meeting in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Two Thai shrimp companies have implemented pilot projects on building systems to establish the origin of shrimp products. Wal-Mart supermarket has begun a program that certifies shrimp suppliers, including definition of shrimp origin to ensure shrimp products are exploited in a sustainable manner.