"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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to a report by the General Statistics Office, the estimated pangasius output for January 2025 reached 102.5 thousand tons, representing a 6.0% increase compared to the corresponding period of the preceding year. This surge is attributed to the rise in pangasius material prices within the Mekong Delta, which has incentivized aquaculture farmers to expand their stocking activities. Concurrently, this price increase has facilitated processing enterprises to intensify procurement efforts to meet export demands during the early part of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Between 2015 and 2024, Vietnamese pangasius exporting enterprises have undergone notable transformations in rankings and experienced fluctuations in developmental strategies, competitive intensity, and business efficacy. This dynamic is clearly illustrated through shifts in export turnover and the proportional contribution to the national pangasius export volume among the Top 5 enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The outlook for Vietnam’s seafood exports remains positive, with a strong focus on maintaining growth in key markets like China and the U.S., while diversifying into new regions. As global trade policies continue to evolve, adaptability and strategic planning will be key to navigating the challenges ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanks to improved pangasius prices and higher production, Vĩnh Hoàn's after-tax profit in Q4 2024 reached VND 440 billion, a 4.8-fold increase compared to the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam’s Customs, in Q4 2024, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to China & Hong Kong reached USD 163 million, a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2023, with consistent growth across all months. The total value of pangasius exports to China & Hong Kong for 2024 reached USD 581 million, a 1% increase over the previous year.
Vietnam’s seafood exports are projected to maintain strong growth this year, potentially reaching 11 billion USD.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final quarter of 2024, Vietnam’s surimi and fish cake exports showed consistent growth over the last three months. For the entire year 2024, exports of these products reached USD 298 million, down 2% compared to 2023. However, the final quarter saw more promising signs for the surimi and fish cake export sector, with some markets experiencing notable growth, such as Thailand, China, and Taiwan. Particularly, exports to Taiwan, which had seen continuous declines in the previous two quarters, surged by 301% in this quarter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Another year of pride for Vietnam's pangasius exports has concluded, reaching over USD 2 billion and contributing 20% to Vietnam's total seafood export turnover.
Vietnam maintained its position as the fifth-largest seafood exporter to Singapore for 12 consecutive months, surpassing Japan for the first time in 2024, amid the intensifying competition in this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Despite facing numerous challenges in the second half of the year, Vietnam's canned tuna exports concluded 2024 with a 17% increase compared to 2023, reaching USD 299 million. To maintain this growth momentum in 2025, the canned tuna production and export sector requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders.
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