In addition to this show of support from the central government, Dr. Leung, head of Hong Kong’s Aquaculture, Fisheries and Conservation department also spoke.
Zhao said that China had been practicing Aquaculture since the 11th century BC, and that in 1980, when Deng Xiaoping launched China’s economic reform campaign, the government made a conscious decision to focus on building up aquaculture over wild-capture fisheries. Under this policy, China produced 5.88 million tons of farmed fish and seafood products in 1988, and this has grown to 15.5 million tons in 2011. Out of this 3.9 million tons is exported. China, according to the FAO, is the only country with a significant wild-capture fishery that produces an even greater quantity from aquaculture.
"We have no choice but to develop the seafood industry in a sustainable way, providing sufficient aquatic products for human beings while striking a balance among population, natural resources and environment," said Zhao.
"China is willing to learn from the other countries’ new solutions to seafood development. We are committed to making new and greater contributions to the sustainability of global seafood market through aquaculture and industrialization," said Zhao.
Other participants at the conference noted that other countries have used quota management to reduce overfishing. China is not taking that path, as the structure of the industry with hundreds of thousands of fishermen and vessels, makes such an effort too unwieldy. Instead, the Chinese government is reducing fishing pressure by introducing a licensing scheme to limit the number and power of fishing vessels; to impose fishing bans and moratoriums, to reduce the overall level of harvests, and to provide incentives for fishermen to switch to other work.
How the Western model of sustainability might work or not work in China has been the overriding theme of the conference. As one Chinese expert put it, China has been successfully farming tilapia for over 2000 years, and so they are not going to be told by outsiders how to make it sustainable, but instead will build on their own traditions.
In the west, the retail model using market incentives, with heavy outside financing from NGO’s, has created strong retailer demand for sustainable seafood, most of which involves 3rd party certification by the MSC, GAA or other scheme.
At a press conference, High Liner CEO Henry Demone, Sea Web President Dawn Martin, and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership CEO Jim Cannon discussed how the Western Model might be applied.
First, all agreed that Asian societies had their own unique cultural approaches to fish and seafood, and that sustainability would have to be achieved in harmony with cultural values.
Jim Cannon described the process as ‘creating win-win’ solutions in individual fisheries, so that the economic or political incentives aligned to benefit all participants. He did not see much difference between North America, Europe and China. Certainly Europe has been as guilty of overfishing and disregarding sustainability a any society on the planet.
He said 'each culture places different values on different aspects of sustainability. For example Japan values assured supply and legality, and it is harder to work on just environmental issues. But in Germany, environmental issues are very important. The key is to find the most important angle to create win wins.”
In China certainly people are beginning to think about environmental issues and sustainability issues and to make progress.
There is a very strong food security argument that is important to the Chinese leadership, and this may be a key entry point in taking action to preserve stocks, and manage aquaculture sustainably. Fish protein is a hugely significant animal protein in the region, and security is an important piece of that.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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