Monitoring of seafood on the surface and bottom at fishing ports

The Ministry of Agriculture said it will monitor the voyages of ships and classify seafood at fishing ports in four central provinces to ensure food safety.

September 20,The Ministry of Health announced research results showing that seafood living inThe above-ground and aquaculture ponds of four provinces (Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue) are all safe, and people are advised not to use bottom-layer seafood within 20 nautical miles.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Health will continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture to periodically monitor seafood in 4 central provinces to ensure food safety and people's health, and continue to take samples of bottom-dwelling seafood for testing.

Thach Kim fish market, Ha Tinh. Photo: Duc Hung.

The Ministry of Agriculture also directed the implementation of monitoring at fishing ports and fishing wharves when ships return to shore, providing a list of common bottom-dwelling seafood in the waters of 4 central provinces for fishermen to take note of. The time for sampling is when the products are unloaded from ships and brought ashore for consumption. The frequency of sampling is 2-3 times/day, depending on local conditions.

According to Deputy Minister of AgricultureHa Cong Tuan, officials and fishermen can easily distinguish between bottom and surface seafood. People will also be informed about this issue.To fish in the 20 nautical mile area, only 90 CV vessels are allowed. The vessel owner or fisherman must explain which fishing grounds they are fishing in and this is shown on the voyage.

"The surface seafood is sold immediately, while the bottom seafood is divided into batches and tested," said Mr. Tuan.

A seafood expert also said it is not difficult to distinguish between bottom-dwelling or floating seafood, near shore or far from shore.

People can eat fish on the surface. Photo: N.D.

The mass fish deaths originated from a number of fish cages near the Vung Ang Industrial Zone (Ha Tinh), then spread to Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien - Hue. At the end of June, Formosa Ha Tinh admitted that it was the direct cause of the marine environmental incident and pledged to pay 500 million USD in compensation.

According to VNE