Last week, Target became the latest U.S. retailer to make a commitment. As one of the country’s largest discount chains, it promised to source 100% of its seafood offerings from a sustainable fishery by the end of 2015, including canned , frozen and fresh tuna.
To date, 63% of Target’s wild seafood meets the MSC standard, and another 24% is being assessed for certification. The standard is widely regarded as a rigorous and robust program – MSC-labeled products can be traced back to a sustainable fishery that has been certified by an independent, third-party.
Target, however, is not a trailblazer in sustainability as the company is following in the footsteps of other U.S. retailers. Back in 2006, Walmart pledged all of its fish products would be certified sustainable against the MSC standard. The giant discounter has since updated its policy to include all seafood species and as of January 2012, 76% of its wild seafood suppliers met the MSC requirements.
Major grocery retailers have also made similar promises. Kroger and Supervalu, for example, both announced they would source 100% of its top 20 wild-caught seafood products from sources that are certified by MSC, in full assessment, or involved in a Fishery Improvement Project with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) by 2015.
The country’s third largest food retailer, and the world’s largest membership wholesale club, has also taken steps to appease consumers. Costco has committed to stop selling wild-caught seafood that is at risk unless it comes from an MSC-certified sustainable fishery.
The concept of sustainability has become embedded and it’s here to stay, says Kerry Coughlin, regional MSC director of North America. Once businesses recognized the limited supply of raw material, they realized it had to be protected, she says.
“They have an obligation to do that both from a perpetuating the business standpoint and they have an obligation to that as global citizens of trade in that natural resource.”
Consumers, as well, are taking notice and growing conscious of their purchases. With awareness increasing, consumers are driving the movement towards a sustainable future.
“They (retailers) know that it’s becoming important to their consumers, and they want to present to their consumers that they’re ahead of that curve,” says Coughlin. Globally, there are 15,487 products that bear the blue-and-white MSC eco-label.
Germany is the leading country with 4,241 MSC-certified products, while the U.S. has 958 sustainable seafood products available.
Earlier this year, the free school skipjack fisheries of the PNA countries received MSC certification. With almost 50% of all skipjack in the world being caught in their waters, MSC supply from this fishery has the best chance of filling the demand in the US and the EU for certified canned tuna. Also the MSC certified US pole and line albacore fisheries are expected to benefit from this trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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