Overfishing of bigeye tuna continues in the western and central Pacific tuna fishery according to a report by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
According to Xinhua News Agency, the SPC made the assessment in a report released at the third African Caribbean Pacific fisheries meeting in Fiji.
Though the species is not at risk of extinction, and is never likely to be, bigeye fishing effort needs to be reduced by at least 32 percent from the average levels of 2006 to 2009 to ensure long-term sustainability, the assessment report said.
The 2010 catch for all four species is estimated at 2.42 million metric tons, the second highest annual catch on record, representing 83 percent of the total Pacific Ocean catch and 60 percent of the global tuna catch.
"Overall, the fishery is in the best shape of all the tuna fisheries in the world," said John Hampton, manager of the SPC Oceanic Fisheries Program.
"On a scale of 110, we estimate it as 67, a green traffic light tinged with orange. But there has been an upward trend in total tuna catch for many years, mainly due to increases in purse- seine fishery catches, which accounted for 75 percent of the 2010 catch."
The purse-seine fisheries and domestic surface fisheries of the Philippines and Indonesia take large numbers of small bigeye, says the report, recommending that the yellowfin catch in the western equatorial Pacific be limited to around current levels and that limits on skipjack fishing be considered.
Illegal fishing is a growing trend and is a serious concern in the world of fisheries and forests, which undermines efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks, Fijian Ministry of Fisheries' Permanent Secretary Inoke Wainiqolo said.
Fiji has developed a National Plan of Action (NPOA), with the assistance of United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization ( FAO), on IUU fishing based on the provisions of the International Plan of Action.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
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