But the local fishermen first need to be taught about basic health standards before the measures can be effective, says a tuna industry insider.
Recently at Tuticorin fishing harbor, a major seaport in Southern India, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), the Food and Agriculture Organization and INFOFISH co-organized a workshop to teach fishermen the proper slicing technique for sashimi-grade tuna fish, which has significant export market value overseas. The workshop was titled, “Improving post-harvest practices and sustainable market development for long line fisheries for tuna and other pelagic fish species.”
Sashimi is a high-quality, Japanese delicacy that consists of thinly sliced raw meat, usually fish. Traditionally, the fish should be processed – paralyzed and bled – as soon as it is caught and then stored immediately in slurried ice to maximize its quality for raw consumption.
Tuna intended for sashimi exports must therefore be caught using pole-and-line, handline of longlining since India’s artisanal fisheries predominantly use drifting gillnets, which substantially increase the level of dangerous histamines in the fish as they can be dragged in the warm ocean water for hours before they are landed on board. The concentration of histamines in raw tuna directly increases with its rising body temperature, so the material must be stored immediately in ice to avoid this health hazard.
For this reason, MPEDA plans to outfit the fishing harbor with a new flake ice making unit and two storage units to cater to the vessels. The government agency will also be offering a complete subsidy to vessels building an ice crusher facility to store ice in their fish hold areas.
While the freshness of ice can be maintained with these initiatives, there have been past incidents of fishermen dumping the ice at sea to increase the fish holding area as their catches improve.
Western companies say the local fishermen in India have little knowledge of clean, fish-handling practices on board because they are used to selling their catches to the local market, which does not demand quality assurances. The majority lack a sense of responsibility and often, paperwork is not kept up to date.
Before investing in sashimi, the government should first focus on changing the mentality of fishermen and especially hiring experts to supervise their work, says the industry insider. He says the new measures are “useless” until the fishermen care about the food safety and health risks involved, and are motivated by the commercial benefits of delivering a high quality and hygienic product.
MPEDA will also offer 50% subsidies for refrigerated sea water systems, fish finder instruments, global positioning systems and radio signal instruments. All mechanized fishing vessels equipped with chemical septic tank toilets will also be subsidized by 50%.
During the month of July the major Indian Exporter of fresh and frozen tuna Moon Fisheries Pvt Ltd from Cochin was linked in the USA to 425 cases of salmonella poisoning of their raw tuna product, sold as sushi or nakaochi scrape. 55 persons had to be hospitalized.
(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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