Quang Nam Province has seen nearly 1,000 tons of dried squid unsalable as China has imposed stricter import rules - PHOTO: SGGPO

Ngo Tan, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, noted that Nui Thanh District’s authorities had reported the situation to the provincial government, complaining that many fishing boat owners could not sell their dried squid to Chinese traders as traditional buyers.

Due to China’s strict new import regulations on origin and quality, local fishermen agreed to lower their selling prices but still failed to sell their product.

In Nui Thanh District, the volume of unsalable dried squid has risen to some 930 tons, including 800 tons left on fishing boats and 130 tons in storage.

The district’s squid fishing boats support nearly 2,000 workers. Each boat can harvest some 20-30 tons of dried squid on each trip.

Currently, China requires that seafood imports, including Vietnamese squid, come through official channels. To ship the product to China, exporters must present certificates of origin or stamps to customs officers, Tan said.

“We have asked the related agencies to calculate the volume of unsalable squid and cooperate with the Department of Industry and Trade to find a solution. The province will also petition for help from the agricultural and trade ministries to meet China’s import regulations,” the official added. SGT