Khanh Hoa: Companies halt purchases of undersized skipjack tuna
In recent months, businesses have stopped buying skipjack tuna that doesn't meet the required size regulations, leading to a sharp drop in prices and leaving fishermen with significant losses, forcing many to stay idle their boats.
For nearly a month, fisherman Huynh Van Cam’s boat, KH 93377 TS, from Vinh Phuoc ward, Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa), has been idle due to the steep decline in skipjack tuna prices. Before September, prices were stable at around 30,000 VND/kg. However, they have since dropped continuously and are now only 19,000–20,000 VND/kg, causing severe financial strain on fishermen.
The Hon Ro fishing port management board confirmed that the low fish prices, combined with rising costs for fishing trips and labor, have made it difficult for boat owners. With no profit in fishing, many have decided to keep their boats ashore.
Vu Dinh Dap, Chairman of the Vietnam Tuna Association, noted that skipjack tuna prices have been declining for about two months across various areas. When prices fall below 30,000 VND/kg, fishermen already risk losses, and now with prices hovering around 20,000 VND/kg, the situation has become even more difficult.
The primary reason for the price drop, according to Dap, is the Government’s Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP, which amends and supplements certain provisions of Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP. This new decree stipulates that the minimum size for harvested skipjack tuna is 500mm (50cm). However, only 3-5% of the catch meets this size requirement.
Since Decree 37 came into effect, export processing companies that purchase undersized skipjack tuna are unable to obtain certification for raw materials from the fishing ports. This has led to a backlog of smaller fish, with limited domestic demand, as most of the catch is processed into canned products for export.
Recent statistics show that Vietnam’s annual skipjack tuna catch ranges from 60,000 to 80,000 tons, with two-thirds to three-quarters of the catch processed into canned products for export. By 2023, the export value of canned tuna surpassed $400 million.
VFM
