Cultivation of tra, also known as panga or basa, in Vietnam. (Photo: WWF, Scott Dickerson)

VASEP asks WWF to reconsider its red-listing of Vietnamese catfish

VIET NAM
Thursday, December 09, 2010, 15:20 (GMT + 9)

Vietnam wants the World Wide Fund (WWF) to ask its European-based members to reconsider their move to classify tra (panga or basa) as red-listed, said Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Deputy Director Nguyen Huu Dung. 

As well, Dung asked that WWF publish its standards and criteria for the management of tra production in the country soon and correct its advice to European consumers to consume other types of seafood, which he called a mistake.

WWF moved panga from the yellow to the red list in its updated 2010-11 Seafood Guides in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway and Denmark. The organisation recommends that shoppers avoid red-listed fish and instead opt for species from its green list, reports VNS.

But Dung referred to WWF’s warning as unscientific and biased. He warned that the decision would deeply harm both producers and consumers and undermine the Fund’s prestige, transparency and honesty.

"The VASEP will create favourable conditions for WWF experts to make a fact-finding tour of Vietnam's fish farms as well as tra fish processors and exporters," he said. "We are willing to supply information, co-operate and acquire constructive opinions."

Dung believes that co-operation with WWF as well as other international groups will succeed in transferring tra to the green list.

WWF’s assessment of tra farming as "to be avoided" surprised the International Collaborating Centre for Aquaculture and Fisheries Sustainability (ICAFIS), the sustainability arm of the Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS). 

ICAFIS said that while working for the WWF in 2009, the director was personally involved in the Fund’s assessment of the fish, which at the time were yellow-listed, or an alternative to green-listed items. The centre has expressed bafflement regarding why an improved industry is now considered "non-sustainable."

Also, ICAFIS noted that the WWF is known to be a strong advocate for a multi-stakeholder approach towards sustainability and thus has supported the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Still, the methodology used to assessment tra was developed by few organisations, which thus do not represent the "views of the stakeholders."

Moreover, the actual assessment results and scores have not been discussed with any key organisations involved in tra farming, the centre argued.

In the first 10 months of 2010, Vietnam exported more than 538,200 tonnes of tra worth USD 1.1 billion to more than 120 countries. Some 184,360 tonnes or 36.8 per cent of this amount was exported to Europe.

The Fisheries Directorate and WWF Vietnam will tackle the issue this week.

Related article:

- WWF condemns tra to the 'red list' 

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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