Phu quoc fish sauce waters around The island are rich in seaweed and plankton which provide food for the anchovy population. However, it only since the late 1950s that the product has been recognized outside of its home island, reaching its zenith of popularity between 1965 and 1975. With increasing government subsidies of many industries in the period from 1975 to 1985, the local fish sauce craft lost market share to larger competitors, but in recent years, the popularity of the authentic Phu Quoc product has been rebounding. In 2012, Phu Quoc fish sauce was granted a European Union Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
Fish sauce at the table as a condiment, for instance in noodle soups. Nearly every Thai meal is served with "phrik nam pla" as a condiment: a mixture of fish sauce, lime juice, and chopped bird's eye chilies. Sliced garlic and lemon juice are often added to this sauce. Historically, there were two types of fish sauce made in Thailand: that made with a fresh-water fish, "pla soi", and sauce made from a salt-water fish, "pla kratak". Either fish is fermented for at least eight months, three parts fish to two parts salt. The resulting mash is filtered. This yields the best