The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) expects 2009 exports will be $ 4.2 billion, which is $300 million lower than last year. The association attributes the decline is partially due to global economic crisis.

A number of seafood farms in the Mekong Delta have suffered heavy losses because of lower prices and higher production costs. According to departments of agriculture and rural development farms and seafood export businesses in the region have suffered losses. They blame it on losing some important export markets, declining export prices and lack of seafood material sources.

Shrimp processing factories in the Delta have faced a severe shortage of materials. Ca Mau Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers expects 2009 exports from the province to decline by $35 million to only $630 million. Polluted shrimp feeding environments have reduced output, so processing factories were not able to operate at full capacity.

The situation has resulted from an unsustainable rush to set up aquaculture farms and seafood processing factories in the Delta a few years ago. The industry asks the Government to play a leading role in restructuring the industry and ensuring its stable development. They said the industry had great potential to develop further because demand for seafood will continue to rise in the world.