Hanoi (VNA) – The Directorate of Fisheries has set a seafood export valueof 9 billion USD for 2018, as heard at a conference held on January 16 by thesector to set out its 2018 tasks.

Thesector also targets a total yield of 7 – 7.5 million tonnes, of which 4 milliontonnes come from aquatic farms.

Atthe function, Acting Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries NguyenNgoc Oai put forth a number of measures for the sector, including carrying out randominspections of input materials, building sets of standards for different areas,reforming administrative procedures, and fighting illegal, unreported andunregulated (IUU) fishing in Vietnam.

ViceMinister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam said the 9-billion-USDgoal is achievable, suggesting the sector focus on value-added increase andquantity reduction in aquatic exploitation.

Hesaid there is a need to develop the shrimp industry and seeks markets for Trafish.

Hestressed between now and June 30, the sector ought to implement anti-IUUmeasures recommended by the EU in order to remove the warning under theEuropean Commission’s “yellow card”.

NguyenThi Phuong Dung, head of the Directorate’s Department for Science, Technologyand International Cooperation, pointed to amendments of legal frameworksrelating to fishing ports, inspections of fishing vessels, and internationalcooperation as potential solutions to the “yellow card”.-VNA