As per media alert Vietnamese government has decided to start the export of puffer fish for the first time. Fishermen and seafood processors in the provinces of Kien Giang and Khanh Hoa, where waters are rich in puffer fish, have been selected to become the first exporters on a pilot basis under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Scientists informed that puffer fish contains toxins so it can be harmful to consumers. Above all Vietnamese fishermen have heretofore lacked the skills and techniques to process the fish. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Luong Le Phuong explained that the Government banned exploiting, processing and trading in puffer fish in 2003 after a number of deaths caused by improper processing.
There is no doubt that the fish has high commercial value if safely processed to clear all toxins. Puffer fish are used not only for food but to produce pharmaceutical products in Japan, South Korea, and other markets, said Phuong. he added that importers from Japan, South Korea and China have all expressed interest in buying the fish from Viet Nam.
The ministry has planned a three-year term for this export with an estimated 800-1,000 tonnes of processed fish would be exported annually at US$5-10/kg, earning a turnover of $4-10 million each year. The business was expected to generate jobs for 600-1,000 workers. Kien Giang and Khanh Hoa would each choose two qualified businesses to work with South Korea’s Poseidon Seafood Co – the sole partner allowed to import puffer fish from Viet Nam under the initial period – to classify and process puffer fish for export.
The deputy director of Kien Giang Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong, said that workers will be provided essential knowledge and techniques, from classifying different kinds of puffer fish to preserving and processing the fish to clear out all poisonous substance.
