ISSF is proposing keeping new vessels from being introduced into the fisheries. A scientific report published by ISSF notes that the world's purse seiners are catching 65 per cent of the global catch. According to "A Snapshot of the Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Large-Scale Fishing Fleets," if every vessel made five or more fishing trips at maximum capacity each year, the global catch would easily exceed the current level.
According to the ISSF, by 1 January 2013: All processors, importers, transporters and others involved in the seafood industry must stop working with skipjack, bigeye and yellowfin tuna harvested by large scale purse seiners not actively fishing for tuna by 31 December 2012, except for those vessels under contract for construction on or before then with construction completed by 30 June 2015, or in cases where there is a change in the name, flag, or registration number of a vessel. Vessels built as a replacement are also permitted; ISSF will establish a record of large-scale purse seine vessels fishing for tropical tuna globally; ISSF will continue to sponsor regional and global workshops on fleet capacity management, including mechanisms for capacity transfers.
“Experts in fisheries management, economics and international law agree that fishing overcapacity leads to overexploitation and wastes resources. The first step in managing excessive fishing capacity is to stop adding boats,” said Susan Jackson, president of ISSF.
In 2010, the Bellagio Conference on Sustainable Tuna Fisheries was held to offer scientific, fishery and government experts a chance to create an analysis of key issues vital for the management of tuna fisheries.
“The first step towards controlling capacity is to establish limited entry, as might be set up via a closed vessel registry, after which reductions in the number of vessels can be negotiated,” the "Bellagio Framework for Sustainable Tuna Fisheries" noted.
The tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) have created a Consolidated List of Authorized Vessels (CLAV) to document all authorized tuna fishing vessels and their regions. ISSF is helping strictly support those vessels that obtain an IMO number, or an equivalent unique vessel identifier.
Jackson added, “Additional efforts will be needed in order to reduce capacity so that it is aligned with what tuna stocks can sustainably support. Rights-based management is an effective way to address overcapacity, conservation and economic benefits.”
(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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