But Sharif C. Sutardjo of the Ministry says that the tuna industry is facing many challenges currently. These challenges include a reduction of productivity, shrinkage in size and the difficulty of tracking tuna population on the high seas.
FAO data shows that the country hit a huge peak with tuna catch in 2011, reaching nearly one million tons. Figures reported by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries for 2012, however, show that landings have returned in line with volumes recorded in 2010, hovering just above 600,000 tons.
The huge fluctuations in the numbers and their enormous totals have many people in the industry wonder how serious such information on Indonesian catches should be taken, and how any resource effective management can take place if no reliable data is available. The tuna claims to have huge tuna resources and catches, but definitely has a very limited overview over its waters, which contains 17,508 islands and covers around 6 million square kilometers.
Sutardjo states that in the whole Indonesian Fishery Management Zone, the status of exploitation on albacore, yellowfin, bigeye and bluefin tuna is in a state to cause concern and is either fully exploited or over exploited. Skipjack is the only tuna that remains at a moderate status according to Sutardjo. He stresses that this negative trend will eventually impact the livelihood of fishermen and the tuna industry. It is believed that cooperation with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) is needed.
Research and monitoring by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is now taking place over 16 tuna processing companies based in Benoa Port in Indonesia in order for the country’s industry to get to know more about its resources. Only when Indonesia is able to provide reliable scientific data to the RFMO’s, these RFMO’s can take effective measures.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
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