Sturgeon breeding community asks for help again

The Lam Dong Cold Water Fish Development Association, on behalf of the business community, cooperatives, and sturgeon breeding households in the Central and Central Highlands and in the whole country, has just submitted a petition to the Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh about the issues related to the import of sturgeon from China.

The petition states that, during the past time, the situation of Chinese sturgeon of the wrong type smuggled into Vietnam has caused significant consequences to the fish’s domestic production and quality.

The Government has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Ministry of Public Security, the General Department of Customs, the Cites Management Authority of Vietnam, and relevant State management agencies to step in and clarify the issue of Chinese sturgeon of the wrong type and quantity imported to Vietnam.

When Chinese imported sturgeon is controlled in accordance with regulations, the domestic sturgeon breeding gradually recovers, revitalizing the whole industry which is known not only to have high economic value but also contributing to social security and sustainable development for many poor localities and remote areas.

Specifically, the price of domestic sturgeon has increased from VND120,000-130,000/kg to VND170,000-180,000/kg, ensuring the maintenance of production, reinvestment, and development for the industry.

However, according to the domestic sturgeon breeding community, the ambiguity about the origin, breed, and species, which is not in accordance with the license in importing Chinese sturgeon is showing signs to continuously occur. Although the Government has directed the State management agencies to clarify, no scientific proof was found to handle thoroughly.

Two of the enterprises that regularly import Chinese sturgeon are An Hung Import-Export and Investment Ltd Company and Sy Hung Seafood Ltd Company as reflected by the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper.

The MPC issued in April 2021 a document stating during the period from January 28, 2020, to July 23, 2020, at Vietnam - China border gates, seven enterprises were approved by State agencies to import from China 337 tons of Siberian sturgeon (scientific name: Acipenser baerii, in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Wild Fauna and Flora).

According to the MPC, a total of 337 tons of Siberian sturgeon after being imported to Vietnam have been sold to the market in Hanoi and neighboring provinces. This action is contrary to the direction of the Prime Minister in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the C05 unit reported to the leadership of the MPC to propose the Ministry of Finance and the MARD to take control measures.

The General Department of Customs affirmed that, over time, during the monitoring of customs procedures, coordinating and taking samples for testing to determine the species at the Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 for some imported sturgeon shipments at the Customs Department of Lao Cai and Lang Son provinces, it was found that the imported sturgeon was actually not in accordance with the License issued by the Cites Management Authority of Vietnam and not relevant to the customs declaration.

The An Hung Investment and Import-Export Ltd. Co. registered the customs declaration at Huu Nghi-Lang Son International Border Gate to import 12 tons of Siberian sturgeon from China.

The Aquaculture Research Institute 1 together with the Customs Sub-Department and the quarantine agency took samples at the enterprise's own warehouse to conduct an inspection. Based on the result, the enterprise’s actual imported goods are not the right type as declared at the customs and in the import license issued by the Cites Management Authority of Vietnam.

Although there have been drastic instructions on determining the origin and species of Chinese sturgeon imported by the An Hung and Sy Hung companies, the State management agencies have not yet come to an official conclusion after many months.

It was surprised that while authorities have not yet concluded about the Chinese imported sturgeon shipments of the two companies, Vietnam Cites Agency, on June 26, 2021, still licensed Sy Hung company to continue import of Chinese sturgeon with the amount of 14,285 kg.

It is recommended to review the Cites license granting process

To cope with such shortcomings and loopholes of Chinese sturgeon imports, the Lam Dong Cold-water Fish Development Association represented the business community, cooperatives, and sturgeon breeding households across the country to propose to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, MARD and MPC to inspect, review and clarify why the such companies are allowed to import sturgeon, while the such sturgeon import are not confirmed whether it is in accordance with the Cites License and current regulations.

It is necessary to establish a scientific council to conduct appraisal and review of sturgeon species currently imported to Vietnam. It is recommended that the Vietnam Administry of Forestry check and review the Cites granting process from the Vietnamese side, ensuring compliance with the procedures of the International Convention on Trade in Endangered and Wild Fauna and Flora.