The Farm Bill sets the United States’ nutrition and agriculture policy for the next five years, and, on Thursday, the Senate voted to advance its version of the bill, initiating about two weeks of debate on the Senate floor.
The previous Farm Bill, enacted in 2008, included a provision that gave the USDA the authority to inspect imported and domestic catfish. However, implementation of the measure has been delayed, even though the rule-making process and the public-comment period have come and gone.
The 2012 Farm Bill would override the 2008 Farm Bill, so if the McCain-Kerry amendment survives, the FDA, the agency responsible for monitoring the U.S. food supply, would retain the authority to inspect catfish.
It appears that support for doing so is only building. In late April, 17 U.S. senators, including McCain and Kerry, signed a letter to Debbie Stabenow, chair of the senate’s Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, urging her to repeal the USDA catfish inspection program. They agrued that the program would “simply supplant the existing FDA [Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points] seafood regulatory scheme.” They also cited two Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports calling the program redundant and duplicative; the program is expected to cost USD 30 million to implement, according to the GAO.
“Cost cutters on the Hill who have been looking to root out waste and protect American jobs have thrown down the gauntlet with this,” said National Fisheries Institute spokesman Gavin Gibbons. “McCain and Kerry are leading a bipartisan effort that says if you support programs that waste tens of millions in taxpayer dollars, if you support programs that will negatively impact U.S. agricultural exports, if you support regulatory programs that have no food-safety benefit, then you support the [USDA] catfish inspection program. If you’re sick of wasteful handouts, you support repeal. It’s a fairly cut and dry scenario.”
The McCain-Kerry amendment comes as a relief to U.S. catfish and pangasius importers, who say the USDA catfish inspection program would curb the flow of product into the U.S. market (it’s still unclear whether the catfish-like pangasius would be included in the program). They also contend that its supporters are simply trying to protect the domestic catfish farming and processing industry, not safeguard public health.
At the same time, U.S. catfish farmers and processors argue that their competitors overseas should be subject to the same scrutiny as they are when it comes to food safety. The USDA catfish inspection program has the backing of The Catfish Institute and several Southern legislators.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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