This was the second time that Asian Pacific Chapter of World Aquaculture Society (WAS-APC) held the Asia-Pacific Aquaculture Conference in the Southeastern Asia, and it was the first conference in Vietnam. This meaningful event offered opportunities for the international aquaculture community to see the rapidly expanding fishery industry of Vietnam (nearly 50 percent increase in the last five years in farming area and over 100 percent in production volume for the last 16 years). The conference this year aimed to deliver a strong message that the world aquaculture needed a strategic approach towards sustainable development in the future.
In his welcome speech, Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development highlighted that, since 2010, among the world key fish producing countries, there have been 8 in the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam ranked third in Asia-Pacific and was in the top ten seafood exporters of the world. These recent years, the fishery industry has been considered as the key business sector in Vietnam.
“This conference with key issues on diseases, environment protection, feed, farming technologies, industry restructuring is a place for Vietnam to share and learn experiences from other countries in the region and beyond,” Mr. Phat added.
There were 1,800 participants to the seminars of APA2013 and more than 170 Vietnamese and foreign companies displaying at the trade show. Attendees heard 50 reports and presentations by scientists and experts from governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations in research, training and trading fields from over 70 countries and territories in the world.
The conference was co-organized by MARD and WAS-APC in cooperation with Research Institute of Agriculture No.2 (RIAII), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), and Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). Uni-President and Biomin were two major sponsors of the conference.
Vietnam – The world third fish producing country
The Asia-Pacific region is the largest fish and aquatic species aquaculture center in the world, according to reports presented in APA-2013.
In 2010, Asia-Pacific farmed fish and aquatic species reached 53.1 million MT, making up of 89 percent of global aquaculture in terms of volume and 80 percent in terms of value.
In Vietnam, aquatic farming was 3.27 million MT in 2012, representing 55.2 percent of annual fishery production, up 7.2 percent against that of 2011 and 287.4 percent against that of 10 years ago, when shrimp output was 488,000 MT and pangasius 1.2 million MT.
Vietnam has ranked the third among fishery producers and has been in the top ten seafood exporters in the world.
So far, per capita seafood consumption in Asia-Pacific is around 29 kilogram per year, equal to a total volume of 116 million MT per year. By 2020, demands from the region is expected to increase to 16 – 20 million MT annually. The figure will reach 25 million MT by 2030. The main trend is to boost farming activities, rather than wild-fish catches, to serve rising demand. Therefore, the aquaculture sector will be the priority of Asia-Pacific countries in the future.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
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