"Anything that cuts into imports," said Lonnie Golden of Fripp Point Seafood, president of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association. "That would be the best thing that could happen for our industry."
The FDA announced Thursday that several types of Chinese seafood products will be stopped at the U.S. border until it's proven that the farm-raised shrimp, catfish, basa fish and dace (a carp-like fish) are not contaminated.
The agency said there's no immediate health risk, but the announcement comes on the heels of several scandals involving tainted products from China, including pet food ingredients blamed for killing dozens of dogs and cats worldwide, toothpaste manufactured with an ingredient used in antifreeze, and children's toys decorated with lead paint.
"To me, it (the FDA action) tells us that our government is doing their job," said Eddie Gordon, executive director of Charleston-based American Wild Shrimp Inc. "We think it's good news.
"It also points out to consumers that there is a difference in shrimp, and hopefully they will look for the Wild American label," Gordon said.
The Wild American Shrimp label is a government-funded certification program for wild-caught domestic shrimp. Some local shrimpers, but not all, participate in the program, which requires quality standards training.
Domestic shrimpers have complained for years that low-priced shrimp imports from Asia are hurting their business. Imports now account for 90 percent of the shrimp sold in the United States, and Chinese-farmed shrimp accounts for slightly less than 10 percent of the U.S. supply.
Sample testing in 2006-07 "repeatedly found that farm-raised seafood imported from China were contaminated with antimicrobial agents that are not approved for use in the United States," the FDA said.
Several of the agents are suspected carcinogens.
"When they (consumers) see it on the news, that's going to get their attention," Golden said. "We hope it will make a difference."
The National Fisheries Institute, which represents importers of foreign seafood, among others, called the FDA action "an important step ... to ensure that nations exporting to the U.S. follow our country's food safety regulations."
The organization said it does not expect the detention and testing of Chinese imports to significantly disrupt the nation's seafood supply.
The FDA describes the new policy as a precautionary measure.
"The FDA believes that risk to U.S. consumers due to these drugs in seafood products from China is minimal, and does not represent an immediate risk to public health," the agency said in a fact sheet posted on its Web site.
There have been no reports of illnesses, and the agency said that if people already have some of the Chinese seafood products in their freezers, there's no reason to throw them away.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn