1. Why is it so cheap? If the deal seems to be too good to be true – it is! Seafood isn’t cheap and if it is there is a reason for that – likely the fish is mislabeled, pumped up with water or adulterated in some other way. Stay away from the “deals.”
2. Do I know you? If you don’t know your supplier, you are making a grave mistake. Suppliers should be partners, not a roster of revolving phone calls you make when you need a case of this or a case of that. Build a relationship with your purveyors, it will help you and help them.
3. Is this fish sustainable? We know there are a slew of competing eco-labels and certification programs out there – and, really, some are better than others. But don’t be lazy, take the time to look at these sustainable seafood certification programs to make sure the fish carrying their stamp really is sustainable.
4. How can I help? In the past several years, the“fishery improvement project,” or FIP, hasemerged as a way for retailers and foodservice professionals to directly contribute to the recovery and sustainability of a fishery they rely on. Groups such as Sea Pact are helping fund FIPs for Brazilian lobster FIP and other fisheries. Seafood companies, too, are contributing directly to FIPs. Do your part, get involved.
5. Where did this fish come from? Selling seafood today is all about tying the product back to the producer, whether that is a fisherman in Norway or fish farmer in Thailand. Know where your fish comes from – visit the fishing grounds or tour the farm.
6. What’s it taste like? Of course, at the end of the day, you are selling food – and food is all about taste. It’s surprising, therefore, how many retailers and restaurateurs have trouble articulating the taste of particular seafood to their customers. There are lots of ways to help your customers understand the taste of seafood, but first you need to know how it tastes.
7. Can you get it to me? Doesn’t matter if your supplier has the best fish on the planet, if they can’t get it to you when you need it, they’re of no use to you. Make sure you understand the logistics capabilities of your vendor.
8. Are you trendy? Plenty of suppliers just want to flip inventory; they don’t want to help you with research on food trends and new species. Don’t settle for an out-of-date supplier. Look for one who is current with trendsand other business developments that will help you sell more seafood.
9. Do I have a marketing plan for this? Ask yourself if you are truly prepared to sell the seafood you are brining into your supermarket or restaurant. Do you have best practices in place to care for the safety of the seafood? Do you have a marketing plan to really push sales of the fish or shellfish – something beyond just sticking it in the display case or putting it on the menu. Seafood customers need nurturing.
10. Should I be selling seafood at all? Look, it is way easier to sell beef and chicken – way easier. Seafood is harder. There are seasons to contend with, sustainability issues, logistic challenges, a variety of species to understand, etc. If you don’t want the complexity of selling seafood, don’t sell it. You won’t do it well and your customers – if given a bad fish – will become seafood haters, and that is not good for anyone.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
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