Good news for oyster growers

Quang Ninh is one of the key provinces growing white shrimps (Litopenaeus vanamei) and Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas).

Recently, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has put the white shrimps and Pacific oysters on the list of invasive alien species. This news has worried the white shrimp and oyster growers in Quang Ninh.

White shrimps are currently raised in Quang Ninh on an  area of 3.000 hectares, accounting for 38% of shrimp farming area within the province, mainly in Yen Hung, Hoanh Bo, Ha Long and Mong Cai. The Pacific oyster farming site covers an area of about 1,000 hectares, focusing on Van Don District.

White shrimp and Pacific oysters are actually the two major aquatic products of Quang Ninh. Especially, Pacific oyster is currently a branded dish in many restaurants in Quang Ninh and in other provinces within the region.

The provision of white shrimp and Pacific oysters on the lists of invasive alien species by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has caused conflicting argument among the scientists about the harmfulness of these two species.

Basing on the evaluation of scientists, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have worked togethterand basically agreed to remove the name of these two species from the list of invasive alien species. This news was confirmed by Mr Pham Anh Tuan, deputy general director of Fisheries Department in the talk with reporters of Government web portal in the morning of Sep 9.

Taking the white shrimps and Pacific oysters out of the list of invasive alien species is a good news for the growers and traders of these marine species.

From the above-mentioned incident, state management agencies and scientists need to take one step forward in their research to provide accurate results so that  the farmers and enterprises are able to avoid  unexpected harms and risks.

Nguyen Đan