Pangasius breeding cooperation
America's Mazzetta Company will cooperate with a Vietnamese firm to train fish breeders to sustainably farm and process pangasius (tra and basa fish) in accordance with US standards, according to Vietnam's official Thanh Nien news agency.
Michael Mackey reports that Tom Mazzetta, chairman of Mazzetta Company LLC, told media in Ho Chi Minh City his firm and animal feed producer Proconco would support farmers in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang to set up a closed fish-farming program including fish feeding, farming, processing and consumption.
“Tracing and sustainability are challenges to Vietnam’s tra fish to the US, which has high demands in product standards,” said Mr Mazzetta.
Proconco will invest in research and development to ensure the quality of fish feed and support Vietnamese farmers in farming techniques and processing methods so their products will meet US standards.
Challenges to Vietnam’s fishery industry may increase as the US government is considering including Vietnam’s tra and basa fish in its catfish list under the 2008 Farm Bill. If the fish is included in the list, it must satisfy stricter farming regulations and inspection. Mr Mazzetta said the Vietnamese government should have plans to step into the case to protect farmers.
Vietnam shipped 47,000 tons of tra and basa fish worth US$134 million to the US last year.
