The breed of tra fish is monitored from the establishment of farms, water supply and treatment of waste water, breeding fish, managing feeds and quality of fry, through to the processing phase. Pham Anh Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Fisheries Department, was speaking at a press briefing in Hanoi regarding the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) listing of Vietnam ‘s tra (Pangasius) fish in the Red List in its guidance manual for European consumers.
Most of the organizations and countries have moved a number of Vietnam’s tra fish products from the Orange List (products can be considered for use) to the Red List (products should not be used) in the 2010-2011 consumer guidance manual for the six EU countries. According to Tuan listing tra fish in the ‘Red List’ is totally unconvincing.
Vietnamese fishery official said that the feeds for tra fish have been supplied by prestigious companies which meet standardised hygienic safety standards in their production. Tuan told that during its working session with WWF Vietnam the same day, the General Fisheries Department proposed that WWF Vietnam contact WWF organisations in the affected countries to request them to remove the recommendation.
Nguyen Tu Cuong, a representative from the Vietnam Fishing Association, requested WWF correct the erroneous information it had already delivered and recall leaflets containing its recommendation already sent to consumers. The Government has in recent times given special attention to the breeding of tra fish in the Mekong delta by establishing a steering committee for tra fish production and consumption and preparing to promulgate a decree related to the work.
