In the survey of approximately 3,000 Americans, 32 percent said that it is important to them that the seafood they purchase is sustainably caught, and 21 percent said it is “very important” that their seafood is sustainable. In addition, 22 percent of Americans said they would be willing to pay between 10 to 20 percent more for sustainably-caught seafood, while 51 percent said they would not be willing to pay extra for sustainable seafood.
“Here in the Pacific Northwest, sustainability as a factor in purchasing is higher than 32 percent. Up here, people eat fresh, wild seafood,” Bob Donegan, president of Seattle-based Ivar’s, a chain of quick-service and full-service seafood restaurants, told SeafoodSource. In fact, 91 percent of Ivar’s guests said that sustainability and local sourcing is a “big factor” in deciding where to eat out, in its recent survey of 400 guests.
Mary Smith, marketing manager for Santa Monica Seafood in Santa Monica, Calif., which operates two stores with cafes, has also seen a much higher interest from shoppers for sustainable seafood.
“Our customers tell us they are willing to pay more sustainable seafood just by walking in the door. Our seafood is generally more expensive than other retailers, but you get what you pay for. In our case, that is consistently fresh seafood that is responsibly sourced and carefully ‘curated’ in the case,” Smith told SeafoodSource.
However, many consumers do not “consciously consider the sustainability of their choices,” according to Stephen Gyland, owner of Cod & Capers Seafood, North Palm Beach, Fla. “The driving factor in the buying decision seems to be quality first and value second. Only speaking about our market and guests, I would have to say that inquiries about the sustainability of a choice is the least-asked question that we encounter,” Gyland said.
Meanwhile, the survey demonstrated a challenge that the industry has been struggling with for years: sustainable seafood labels are confusing to consumers. Two-thirds of those surveyed said they were only “somewhat confident” about sustainability labels, and 19 percent were “not at all confident.”
“As a consumer, I would have found it difficult to embrace the MSC certification process without reservations. The mission statement by NOAA on their Fish Watch web site — as well as the wealth of really good information — is much less misleading and confusing for the consumer. We rely on and refer to this source often,” Gyland said.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
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