Vietnam's Pangasius Exports to EU Down Sharply in 2017 as Consumer Demand Continues to Erode A report by the Vietnam Pangasius Association (VPA) showed that drastic declines in pangasius fish exports to the EU market are still occurring in 2017 with the total value down over 17.5 percent so far this year. Consumer demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the EU is eroding because of attacks on the industry's production methods. A decision by Carrefour Belgium to ban the sale of pangasius at its stores earlier this year sparked a series of very negative news stories that incorrectly said Vietnam's production methods were damaging the environment. NGOs were quick to jump on these stories to further destroy the perception of Vietnamese pangasius among EU consumers. Major Indian shrimp exporter Devi Seafoods has attained four-star certification from the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program. Devi achieved the four-star designation after its shrimp feed mill received BAP certification in its first year of operation. Devi has also opened a second shrimp feed production plant that will boost its annual output to 100,000 tons.“Devi Seafoods has grown steadily over the years by investing in integration and consolidating its position in the industry,” the company said in a press release. “With a fully integrated supply chain, Devi Seafoods has better control over the quality of its produce and is actively working towards sustainability by participating in the ASC and BAP programs.” In other news, Indian seafood exporters say the EU does not have a good reason for stepping up its inspections of imported shrimp. EU Customs officials are now inspecting 50 percent of all imported shrimp that enters the market from India, which exporters say is a non-tariff barrier. “There is no justifiable reason for increasing the EU import-surveillance norms. Normally, such measures are taken when frequency of rejections is on the rise. However, there are no such reports,” said Norbert Karikkassery, President, Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) Meanwhile, a massive years-long, undercover operation by the US Department of Justice has led to arrests and guilty pleas of elver poachers and traffickers up and down the East Coast. The guilty pleas over the past six months account for $2.75 million worth of Maine elvers. Finally, grocer LIDL Italy has joined with LIDL Denmark and LIDL Germany to announce it will work to end transshipment at sea in all its seafood supply chains. This has been a demand of tuna campaigners led by Greenpeace in Europe.“LIDL Italy’s actions on sustainable seafood procurement and transshipment at sea are significant steps in the right direction. We continue to see consumers around the globe demanding more responsibly-caught seafood products, and retailers are answering the call by adding those products to store shelves," said Greenpeace Italy Oceans Campaigner Giorgia Mont. Have a great weekend.