The position includes a call for a reduction in catches for bigeye tuna in the region, which is being overfished. ISSF also advocates for a catch limit, determined by each species’ stock evaluation and productivity, placed on the amount of north Pacific albacore, yellowfin and skipjack taken by vessels in the region.
In order to meet the requirements outlined in the Antigua Convention, ISSF urges IATTC to establish stock-specific reference points; recommending that the IATTC set interim reference points, much like the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission did, which can be evaluated further by the staff for expected performance under various harvest control rules. RFMO members should also agree to a performance review, to be completed prior the next IATTC annual meeting. The review should assess the performance of the individual members as well as the collective organisation.
In an effort to promote capacity limitations, ISSF has called upon the IATTC and its members to address all ambiguities associated with its Regional Vessel Register to ensure the total amount of well capacity is limited to maintain a level that matches the productivity of the eastern Pacific’s tuna stocks. In addition, the IATTC should effectively limit the capacity of gears other than purse seine.
Other improvements supported in the ISSF position statement include the development of a regional FAD management plan through FAD data gathering, along with sharing the results of current and future research on FAD construction and bycatch mitigation. ISSF also called on all RFMOs to adopt measures to mandate that fins remain naturally attached for any sharks retained onboard, and to adopt a prohibition on deliberate purse seine setting around whale sharks.
Full retention of catch is also highlighted in the position statement along with a similar measure for the full retention of all bycatch by purse seine vessels, except where otherwise prohibited by IATTC or national regulations, or where the animal can be released alive. These measures are also supported by ISSF Conservation Measures.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki commented: "It is paramount for members of the supply chain to have tools for monitoring the situation and engaging actively in improvements to source fisheries."
She added: "We all have the responsibility to ensure fish stocks long-term sustainability. Within this objective it is necessary to keep fisheries impacts within sustainable bounds, by including all knowledge we have about the interactions between fisheries and marine ecosystems".
(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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