Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

The association said there is large room for seafood exports, but the sector has faced many difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last three months.

VASEP said that seafood production and exports will recover slowly and continue to face difficulties until the end of the year due to a lack of raw materials and labourers, and an increase in costs of labour, transport, and COVID-19 prevention. 

The number of workers vaccinated against COVID-19 in provinces with a thriving fishery industry remains low, it noted, calling the localities to give priority to increasing the vaccine coverage for employees in seafood production chains.