The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh plans to expand breeding clams on more than 15,000ha of alluvial grounds along coastal areas, with priority given to poor households, Pham Minh Truyen, director of the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2020, the Covid-19 epidemic broke out worldwide, especially the countries that are importing a lot of Vietnam's seafood, making the country's seafood export results nearly 10% lower than the same period in 2019 to reach 1.62 billion USD.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 3 months of 2020, the total export value of pangasius reached US$ 334 million, down 29.3% over the same period in 2019. During the first quarter of 2020, Covid-19 had a significant impact on Vietnamese pangasius exports to many markets. This export landscape is brighter when witnessing pangasius export value to 2 major markets - China - Hong Kong and the US growing quite well. In particular, in March 2020, pangasius export value to China - Hong Kong soared by 109% compared to January 2020.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's shrimp exports in the first three months of 2020 reached US$ 628.6 million, a slight increase of 1.8% compared to the same period in 2019. In particular, shrimp exports to the US market in the first 3 months of 2020 recorded the most positive growth among the main importers. Amid export disruption in many markets due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this is an encouraging growth for Vietnamese enterprises.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, after the growth in February 2020, tuna export value plunged in March 2020. Total tuna export value of Vietnam in the first quarter of 2020 down 10.4% over the same period in 2019. This result is due to the decline in tuna export value to major importers. Specifically, after the growth in February, tuna exports to all three largest importers of Vietnam, the US, EU and ASEAN, all slumped in March.

Vietnamese pangasius producer and processor Vinh Hoan Corporation has broken ground on its new food-grade fish oil factory, it has announced.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the 5 years (2015-2019), Vietnam's shrimp industry has achieved positive results in production and export. Shrimp farming area increased by an average of 1.4% per year, while production rose by an average of 5.7% annually, mainly due to improved whiteleg shrimp productivity. The production of whiteleg shrimp elevated sharply by nearly 41% after 5 years with an average increase of 9% per year. Meanwhile, black tiger shrimp production went up by an average of 1.2% and only increased by 3.1% after 5 years; productivity did not have a significant growth compared to whiteleg shrimp.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Xuân Cường has urged 28 coastal provinces to promote further actions against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The European Council has approved a decision to conclude the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the final procedure from the E.U. side needed for the deal to become effective.

The European Council on Monday ratified a free trade agreement with Vietnam that promises to reduce tariffs on Vietnamese shrimp from the current 12% to 20% rates to zero after seven years, Vietnam News reports.