The total volume of production from wild-catch fisheries is expected to reach 94 million tons in 2025, up from approximately 93 million tons averaged between 2013 and 2015, according to the FAO report, "The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2016." The primary reason for the stagnation in production is that fact that most stocks are fully exploited.
“The 10 most productive species accounted for about 27 percent of the world’s marine capture fisheries production in 2013. Most of their stocks are fully fished and, therefore, have no potential for increases in production, while some stocks are overfished and increases in their production may be possible only after their successful restoration,” the report said.
The key factor toward maintaining the current production levels of the world’s oceans will be reducing overfishing and achieving a greater share of fish stocks harvested within biologically sustainable levels, according to the FAO. While 68.5 percent of the world’s wild fish stocks caught in 2013 were fished within biologically sustainable levels, the FAO estimated that 31.5 percent of fish stocks were overfished in 2013. That total includes 41 percent of tuna stocks – one of the most important fish species globally.
Other major contributors to the continuing steady production of seafood include declining oil prices, the recovery of fish stocks currently under management plans, the reduction of discards and waste (the FAO estimates between 27 and 35 percent of landed fish are lost, discarded, or wasted between landing and consumption), and the increasing efficiency of fishmeal production.
The last two factors will increasingly become more intertwined through 2025, as fishmeal and fish oil producers up the share of residual “leftovers” from fish processing – such as heads, tails, bones, and offal – that they in their products. The amount of fishmeal produced from fish waste is predicted to grow from 29 percent – the average of the years 2013 through 2015 – to 38 percent in 2025. The total amount of fishmeal and fish oil production will be 5.1 million tons and one million tons, respectively – representing a 15 percent jump from the 2013-2015 average. The FAO estimates that 96 percent of that growth will come from the increased use of fish waste.
Despite the inherent limitations on their yields, wild-capture fisheries will continue to be a vital part of the seafood industry and of feeding the world’s population. Continuing the work of improving the sustainability of the world’s catch is vital not just to maintaining current levels of seafood production, but also in achieving the humanitarian goal of alleviating poverty, the report said.
“Progress in ensuring the sustainability of capture fisheries and aquaculture and their contribution to the fight against hunger and poverty and to economic and social development is critical,” the FAO said.
Success stories, such as the rebuilding of the hake fishery in Namibia, the abalone stock in Mexico, and laws curbing overfishing in Australia, the European Union, and the United States, are evidence that progress is being made.
“Such success stories prove that overfished stocks can be rebuilt, and rebuilding will lead to higher yields and substantive social and economic benefits,” the report concluded.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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