Expert urges seafood safety inspections

News 15:14 13/09/2014

(Xinhua) A senior Chinese oceanic

Local governments along the coast of the Bohai Sea should enhance their inspections of non-farmed seafood in the Bohai after the annual fishing ban is lifted, according to Cui Wenlin, director of the environmental monitoring center with the North China Sea Branch of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA).

The seafood from the Bohai being sold in the market is uncontaminated, because fishing is currently prohibited in the Bohai to preserve oceanic resources and no spilled oil has been detected in the coastal fish farms, said Cui. "But after the annual fishing ban is lifted in September, safety checks of seafood should be beefed up."

The environmental monitoring center Cui directs has been monitoring the impacts of the oil spills on the Bohai's water quality, seabed sediments and marine life.

The leaks, which took place respectively in platform-B and platform-C of the Penglai 19-3 oilfield in Bohai Bay, made the water quality in an area of 840 square km fall to the lowest of the SOA's four categories. The spilled oil has also been detected in seabed sediment samples taken near the oil field.

Only some leaked oil was recovered and some had mixed into the water or sunk into the deep sea, Cui said.

"The oil, containing toxic substances and heavy metals, will greatly affect the growth of marine life that live on the seabed, such as clams, scallops and some kinds of crabs," Cui said.

Bohai is a half-closed sea with comparatively low self-clean ability due to limited water exchange with the outside, he added.

The Penglai 19-3 oilfield is being mined by ConocoPhillips China (COPC), a subsidiary company under the U.S. energy giant ConocoPhillips, under a joint development agreement with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, the country's largest offshore oil producer.

While COPC said last week that the oil spill had been contained and the clean-up was nearly finished, a statement issued by the SOA on Monday said investigators found that "a small amount" of oil was still leaking from platform-C of the oilfield.

So far, no leaked oil has been monitored in the offshore waters, seaside resorts, marine conservation zones and fish farm zones, according to Cui.

"However, the oil spills will have a long-term influence on the ecosystem of the Bohai, as the oil in the sea will affect plankton, filter feeders that eat plankton as well as those living on the seabed," Cui said.

The environmental monitoring center with the North China Sea Branch will start to comprehensively access the damages of the remaining oil on Bohai's oceanic ecosystem, Cui said.

Oil seepage was first reported to the SOA North China Sea Branch by ConocoPhillips on June 4, with another incident reported on June 17. The leaks were respectively brought under control by June 19 and June 21.

The first leak from platform-B occurred at the seabed and resulted from increased pressure when workers injected water and drill cuttings into the earth. The latter incident from platform-C was due to a surge in the well, said the SOA, without giving details.

The SOA said COPC will be fined 200,000 yuan (30,770 U.S. dollars) for the oil spills. However, Wang Bin, a senior official with the SOA oceanic environmental protection bureau, said maritime authorities will also claim environmental compensation from COPC in accordance with relevant laws, and the figure will be "much more than" 200,000 yuan.

 

Bạn đang đọc bài viết Expert urges seafood safety inspections tại chuyên mục News của Hiệp hội VASEP

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Khanh Hoa promotes disease-free golden pompano seed production for industrial marine aquaculture

 |  18:59 22/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.

Vietnamese pangasius: from export recovery to the need for upgrading the value chain

 |  14:46 20/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.

Vinh Long accelerates the development of high-tech shrimp farming

 |  08:29 19/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.

Đồng Tháp strengthens efforts to tackle illegal fishing

 |  08:12 18/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.

Seafood businesses enhance competitiveness and boost exports.

 |  08:38 17/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.

EFTA deal provides fresh opportunities for seafood exports

 |  08:47 16/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung issued important directives related to the pangasius fish industry and agricultural product processing in An Giang province.

 |  08:21 15/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of July 13th, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister, along with his delegation, visited and worked with businesses in An Giang province to promptly resolve obstacles and promote production and business activities.

Strict disease management ensures the quality of Vietnamese tilapia

 |  09:50 13/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As importing markets increasingly focus on biosecurity and traceability, Vietnam has established a relatively comprehensive legal framework and disease management system for aquaculture, covering tilapia farming as well as other cultured species. This system is based on the Law on Animal Health, regulations on the prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases, the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Major Diseases in Farmed Aquatic Species, and environmental monitoring and early warning programs for aquaculture areas.

Vietnam and Brazil strengthen economic ties, VASEP promotes seafood trade cooperation

 |  18:00 10/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On July 9, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil organized the seminar titled “Sharing Information on Vietnam-Brazil Economic, Trade and Investment Relations in the First Half of 2026” to provide updates on bilateral cooperation and strengthen connections among government agencies, industry associations, and business communities of the two countries.

Seafood exports overcome challenges, impressive growth

 |  09:07 09/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in the first 6 months of the year continued to be a bright spot with a total turnover of 5.7 billion USD, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. By commodity group, seafood is one of the three groups with a trade balance in the first 6 months of 2026 in a surplus state with 4.13 billion USD, an increase of 17%.

VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM

Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội

Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO

Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu

Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn

Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn

VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn

© Copyright 2020 - Mọi hình thức sao chép phải được sự chấp thuận bằng văn bản của VASEP

DANH MỤC