“We are one important step closer to protecting millions of U.S. shrimp consumers, our U.S. shrimp fishery, and legitimate, law-abiding shrimp importers from illegal shrimp imports”, said Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) Executive Director, John Williams, who further noted that shrimp is our nation’s largest seafood import with over $6 billion in shrimp products imported in 2017.
Shrimp importers have until December 31, 2018, to be in full compliance with the requirements of the SIMP program. Accordingly, shrimp importers must -
- be U.S. citizens;
- secure and maintain an International Fisheries Trade Permit (IFTP) from NOAA;
- report upon entry into the US a range of data elements needed to confirm the lawful acquisition of the product at the point of harvest; and
- for two years, keep records of that data along with information documenting the integrity of the supply chain of custody from those harvest events to entry into the U.S.
The program further provides NOAA with authority to perform audits of the harvest and chain of custody information provided by importers. This will greatly facilitate the U.S. government’s efforts to combat IUU fishing and a broad array of fraudulent activities in the shrimp import supply chain devised by dishonest importers to evade various U.S. trade and consumer safety laws.
As previously reported by SSA, shrimp imports have been associated with a range of illegal activities including -
- IUU fishing;
- the use of dangerous, illegal antibiotics by overseas shrimp farms;
- the use of slave labor by foreign fishing vessels, shrimp farms and processing facilities; and
- the evasion of U.S. anti-dumping duties and efforts by the FDA to enforce U.S. food safety laws.
The inclusion of shrimp imports under the SIMP program was a long-fought and hard-won legislative battle championed by a number of powerful Members of Congress deeply concerned about these illegal activities. Opponents of the legislation included the National Fisheries Institute and the National Restaurant Association.
1) March 22 “U.S. Congress Acts to Place Imported Shrimp Under the Seafood Import Monitoring Program”:http://www.shrimpalliance.com/u-s-congress-acts-place-imported-shrimp-seafood-import-monitoring-program/
2) March 23: “Update: Shrimp Under SIMP Is Now The Law”: http://www.shrimpalliance.com/update-shrimp-simp-now-law/
Source: Southern Shrimp Alliance
(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.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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