Vietnam has about 40 species of swell-fish with the stock of about 37,287 MT. Swell-fish has not long been caught by specialized fishing gears but they have often been from by-catch, accounting for 2 – 6 percent.
In Kien Giang, swell-fish production is about 6,000 - 10,000 MT per year. To avoid the possibility of imbalance marine ecosystems and reduce the waste, the government and MARD allowed 2 provinces of Khanh Hoa and Kien Giang to pilotly catch, process and export swell-fish to South Korea.
Kien Giang entrusted the tasks to 2 units to swell-fish process and export and 4 units to purchase, preserve and transport in Tac Cau Fishing Port Industrial Zone. Currently, processing companies are implementing swell-fish export contracts with Korea Poseidon Seafood Co. Company in South Korea.
Fisheries experts said although swell-fish export is just the first step, it is hoped that the first consignments will soon receive good feedbacks from importers in South Korea.