Japanese custom holds that eating the nutritious fish in the dog days of summer can help people weather the intense heat, and July 27 was chosen as a special day to publicize it.
Japan relies on imports for 70 to 80 percent of the eels it consumes. Of the 73,800 tons of domestically consumed eels in 2010, 53,100 tons were imported, mainly from China and Taiwan, according to the Fisheries Agency. Japan has also started importing eels from France, Indonesia, Ireland, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, the U.S. and Vietnam.
While eels from the Southern Hemisphere account for a small fraction of Japan's total imports, the prices are reasonable and could prove to be a boon for Japanese consumers.
"I've found that eels are raised in Africa through some research," said an official with a trading house in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, a city known for its eel-farming industry.
In late June the company imported a sample shipment of about 150 kg of farmed eels from Madagascar, which raises the fish for European consumers.
The firm, which deals mainly in machine parts, decided to buy the eels at the request of local food processors who have been badly hurt by soaring prices.
Madagascar eels differ from the kind commonly eaten in Japan but have received good reviews from Japanese dealers who say they taste like domestically grown eels after being grilled.
The trading firm plans to import about a ton of Madagascar eels a week starting in late August. The price will likely be about 40 percent lower than that of Japanese eels.
Ebisen, a Hamamatsu-based seafood wholesaler, has been buying naturally grown eels from Tasmania for the past several years as eels from other areas have become more expensive.
"Meaty eels (from Tasmania) taste good whether they're grilled or fried," said the company's director, Naoya Kamo.
While the prices of young Chinese and Taiwanese eels have been on the rise in recent years due to poor catches, Takashi Moriyama, chief of the Japanese eel import cooperative, said it is still questionable whether eels from more distant countries suit the Japanese palate.
"Since only small amounts of them are sold in Japan, (their low prices) have yet to provide a welcome relief (for consumers)," Moriyama said. "But it's a good thing they can be offered to consumers at low prices."
(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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