Aqua-culture industry insiders, governmental officials and investors attended a seminar on the building of standards for “tra” and “basa” catfish held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 26-27.

The two-day seminar was one of six organised by the WWF to build standards for aqua products and is the first to be held in Vietnam.

In 2007, Vietnam is forecast to produce close to 1 million tonnes of “tra” and “basa” catfish.

According to statistics compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the world’s total catfish output was 10,000 tonnes in 1995 and hit 440,000 tonnes in 2005. The sharp increase in industry output created quality and environmental concerns.

Vietnam’s “tra” and “basa” catfish is exported to 80 countries and territories worldwide. The US used to enjoy an 80 percent export share but the EU has supplanted in recent years.