This year's total ocean tuna output reached 17.5 thousand tonnes, down 5-10% compared to last year. Moreover, only 30 to 40% of this total were sufficiently high standard to qualify for whole fish export. This has shrunken fishermen's income even further.
Hundreds of tuna fishing vessels in the southern central provinces of Bình Định, Phú Yên have shifted to trawling for other fish. Experts have urged fishermen to invest more in technology to improve the quality theirtuna catches and benefit from better financial returns/.