REPORT Pangasius Sustainability Roundtable Discussion Organized by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership in Collaboration with the College of Aquaculture and Fisheries Can Tho University Can Tho City, Vietnam January 15, 2013
Introduction The pangasius industry is one of the success stories of the Vietnamese aquaculture sector. It has been one of the most important export products of Vietnam for over a decade now. At present, pangasius is in the top 10 imported seafood products of the United States, and it is also popular in Europe. However, pangasius success also comes with several concerns from buyers, consumers, and other stakeholders of the industry (including non-governmental organizations). Some of these concerns include food safety, labor issues, traceability, and sustainability. Criticism has come from both Europe and the United States regarding the safety of this seafood for consumers as well as for the environmental status of the farms where pangasius is cultured. Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is currently working in Vietnam to ensure that these issues are being addressed. Under SFP s Aquaculture Program, the Vietnamese Pangasius Aquaculture Improvement Project (AIP) focuses on the sustainability issues that surround the pangasius industry. Unlike other improvements in Vietnam or any other aquaculture areas, SPF s approach is regional/zonal, where specific zones are identified to promote working together in addressing the issues. SFP believes that in order to create significant changes in the water, producers/stakeholders from the same region who are using the same resources should act together. As an initial activity for the AIP, SFP organized a roundtable meeting in Can Tho, Vietnam, held on January 15, 2013, to fully introduce the strategy to the various stakeholders in the pangasius industry. The meeting was organized so that the stakeholders, particularly from the producer sector, discuss the current situation of the industry and plan how to address the known issues. Objective: The overall objective of the sustainable pangasius roundtable meeting was to formally introduce SFP s AIP program and to meet/identify potential members who will implement the different activities of the program. Specific objectives of meeting included: Introduce the aquaculture improvement project s (AIP) zonal approach to the pangasius industry in Vietnam Understand the current situation of the pangasius producers in relation to the sustainability issues Create a platform for buyers, processors, and producers to directly share their concerns and expectations for the industry Assess the interest of the pangasius producers in working together towards sustainability. 2
Location: Meeting Hall, College of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Can Tho University, Campus II, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam Organizers: The sustainable pangasius roundtable meeting as organized by SFP in collaboration with the College of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Can Tho University (CAF-CTU). The following were the main people involved in the preparation and implementation of the said meeting: Mr. Anton Immink SFP, Global Aquaculture Director Dr. Ernesto J. Morales SFP, Aquaculture Technical Director Dr. Pham Minh Duc SFP Vietnamese Pangasius AIP Coordinator Asst. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Phuong Vice Rector of Can Tho University Mr. Tran Minh Phu College of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Can Tho University CAF-CTU Staff: 7 Moderators: Anton Immink and Pham Minh Duc Translators and Secretary: Pham Minh Duc and Tran Minh Phu Presenters: The roundtable meeting agenda combined presentations and plenary discussion in order to organize and focus discussion, including the following sessions and topics: Presenter Anton Immink Huw Thomas, Morrisons Supermarket, UK Topics Introduction about SFP and AIPs activities on Tra catfish, achievement, and planning Buyer perspective on sustainability 3
Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Vice Rector Can Tho University Ernesto Jack Morales Anton Immink GAP identification in catfish industry Impact of Mekong dams on aquaculture Adding value to pangasius, building a brand Participants: The roundtable participants were pre-selected based on their role in the development of the pangasius industry in Vietnam. Most of the producers (individual farmers and representatives from companies) who attended were those that are active and fully aware of the current situations in the pangasius industry. Processing plant operators as well as their exporters, who brought knowledge of the international market, also participated in the meeting. These companies were invited through SFP s relationship with their buyers from Europe and North America. Local organizations including the local offices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) were also invited. While initial plans included only 20 25 participants, requests from several organizations increased the attendance three-fold to a total of 60 participants. The breakdown of the participants is presented below: Summary of the roundtable participants (details is in the attached file). Sector No. of Organizations Total Attendees Processing companies 8 13 Provincial Aquaculture Departments 3 4 Scientific institutions 2 7 Farmers 3 3 Aquaculture associations 2 3 Journalists 3 3 Suppliers 5 8 NGOs 2 4 Other (feed companies, chemical companies, certification bodies, etc.) 7 15 Total attendees 35 60 4
The majority of the participants came from the producer sector (processing plants with farms, individual farmers, and aquaculture associations). Scientists and government representatives from the provincial offices were also present and shared the different government programs in the provinces. 5
The Meeting Process: As described above, the meeting was moderated by SFP (Anton Immink and Pham Minh Duc). The morning session covered most of the presentations part of the meeting. After each presentation, a limited time was allotted for participants to ask questions or to give feedback on the presentation. The rest of the afternoon was devoted to discussion. During the presentation sessions, English presentations were translated simultaneously into Vietnamese and a English and Vietnamese versions of the PowerPoint presentations were shown side by side. Huw Thomas (Morrisons, UK) presentation was presented remotely via Skype. Prior to the discussion, the participants were given a series of questions to answer as a group. The discussion tackled several issues like the impact of building dams upstream along the Mekong River, where producers have pointed out potentially negative impacts to the pangasius industry. Some producers are already drawing connections between their present problems and ongoing dam constructions. In addition to discussing the impact of dams, the group addressed issues such as diseases and environmental management. 6
Discussion Impact of Dams construction at upstream region of the Mekong It is evident from the discussion that the real impacts of building dams upstream on the Mekong River are still unclear to most of the farmers. Perceptions were mixed among producers, with some favoring the construction of the dam many who were very concerned about the negative impacts the construction may bring. Some producers understand that the dam will greatly affect the volume as well as the current of the water flowing downstream. This reduction of flow will surely affect the water quality, i.e., through water pollution (highly concentrated water will not flow as readily or be neutralized as quickly as before), salinization, and disease outbreaks. Economic impacts of the dam include possible higher operational costs for adapting dikes to the new water level and flow as well as the additional cost of pumping water. It is believed that due to the reduction of flow, seawater intrusion will increase, affecting many of the producers in the lower part of the Mekong River. The discussion led to general consensus that more clarity on the real impacts of building dams is needed and a suggestion that scientists gather more scientific information on the dam s potential impacts on the lower Mekong, with participation among producers and other affected organizations. Diseases and environmental management The discussion on diseases and environmental management focused on causes and potential solutions. Some of the issues related to diseases are poor quality of fingerlings and broodstocks, lack of technical know-how of farm staff resulting in inappropriate use of drugs and chemicals, poor water management, and poor quality of feeds. In addition, most producers are working in isolation from others and not avoiding the spread of diseases by informing neighboring farms of incidents. The discussion emphasized the value of farms working together in order to address the issue on a larger scale, as individual approaches rarely isolate or solve the problem. Several options/management strategies were proposed in order to address the regional issue of diseases. Proposed solutions for disease management include: Planning for regional isolation when disease outbreaks happen Establishing a center for zonal management that would monitor the activities in the region Encouraging cooperation between government agencies as well as other stakeholders, universities, and NGOs Training on waste management in the region Improving the capacity of the monitoring centers Building the capacity of small-scale producers in order to improve management as well as increasing their knowledge on the different farming regulations in Vietnam and in the Mekong region in general 7
Pushing for strong/strict implementation of the regulation in order to give credit to those farms that are doing their job and producing pangasius responsibly. In addition, the roundtable participants agreed on the need for a general assessment of the status and the carrying capacity of the Mekong River as whole in order to determine appropriate management approaches. Many different sectors affect the quality of the water in the Mekong River and each sector needs to contribute to the improvement of the Mekong River. Importation of feed ingredients While a lot of effort has been put into improving the environment and increasing the production of catfish in the Mekong, less attention is being given to improving the different inputs needed in pangasius farming, such as feed. Most of the important ingredients used in pangasius feeds are imported, as Vietnam does not have enough sources in-country. If this trend continues, dependency on foreign resources will increase as well as the price of growing pangasius. This issue demands ongoing attention in order to improve pangasius farming along the Mekong. Small-scale operations There are concerns regarding the awareness and practices of small-scale operators in pangasius farming. Most of the small-scale operators are perceived to lack proper training on good management and most their activities are just based on past experience and observations of neighboring farms. They are unaware of the implications of these practices, and subsequently, they tend to use harmful practices such as overuse or misuse of drugs and chemicals, feeding, water management, etc. Financial concerns include the the fact that small-scale operators might have trouble finding additional capital to cover the increased cost of following regulations or improving management in the farm (such as screening water, effluent treatment, improving dikes, and allocating storage areas). It is necessary to build or improve the capacity of small-scale producers as part of zonal management as they play a key role in the overall production. Assessment of cooperation During the plenary discussion, the participants were asked to volunteer to establish a pilot region/zone for SFP s AIP program and at least two representatives from farmer groups expressed an interest in being part of the program. Some participants who did not voice their immediate support explained that they need to consult their members or their superiors. At the end of the meeting, a letter of commitment was distributed to the participants. The letter indicated SFP s different AIP program activities. The participants were given the option to sign the letter on site to show support to the project, and at least 10 letters were 8
signed immediately by participants. Those participants who did not have the authority to sign on behalf of their company took letters for consideration. Conclusion and Action Points: In summary, the one-day roundtable discussion with the different players of the pangasius industry in Vietnam can be considered a successful event. Proposed upcoming activities for pangasius AIPs: Visit Tra Vinh Aquaculture Association to address the small-scale grouping farm performance, planning for ASC certification. Visit Can Tho Aquaculture Association and farmers: Nguyen Minh Phuong in Tan Loc, Thot Not Can Tho and Nguyen Ngoc Hai in Thoi An, O Mon, Can Tho to talk more with them on how to implement the group farm/link farm. Design the workplan to work with the first farm groups 1. Set up groups 2. Train them on zonal management 3. Work with them on how to operate the link farms in term of sharing technique, water management, farm structure 4. Support them on techniques, cooperate with local authority on managing the link farms. Plan for environmental impact assessment in Mekong River Delta. Follow up communication with provincial aquaculture office in Vinh Long to determine interest in being the focus area for the AIP (regional). 9