The meeting, with officials from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and seafood export firms, was held after the country was last month served with a yellow card warning by the EU for failing to progress in fighting IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing.
Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy secretary general of VASEP, said his association’s IUU working group did a study of fisheries management, the process of issuing fishing licences in three key central fishing areas, Da Nang city and the provinces of Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan.
VASEP has recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should establish a national IUU working group and organise a national conference to discuss the yellow card and take action to avoid a red card, which is imminent in six months in the absence of improvement, he said.
VASEP said its review, which includes the EU’s recommendations, would be considered to draft amendments to the Fisheries Law.
These include making it mandatory for fishing vessels to use equipment like cameras to record data during their fishing trips, he said.
VASEP would issue a White Book on the IUU programme indicating Vietnam’s efforts to improve its fisheries management, he said.
It would also get foreign experts to make recommendations for improvement, he added.
Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, chairwoman of VASEP’s Marine Product Committee, said there is not much time left before the six months lapse, and hoped the country can avoid the red card, which would preclude fisheries exports to the EU.
Ferrer appreciated VASEP’s efforts and said the EU’s warning would help Vietnam improve its systems ahead of the proposed bilateral free trade agreement (EVFTA).
The country could learn good fisheries management from the Philippines and Thailand, she said.
Vietnam has favourable geographical conditions to develop its seafood industry with its long coastline of over 3,260 km and more than 3,000 islands and islets.
Fisheries is a key sector whose output has been consistently rising in recent years.
The country hopes to become a leading seafood exporter by 2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s exports of shelled mollusks recorded impressive growth in the first two months of 2025, reaching USD 41 million—an increase of 132% compared to the same period in 2024 (USD 18 million).
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in the first two months of 2025, Vietnam's shrimp exports recorded positive signs with strong growth in a number of important markets, of which lobster exports to China increased sharply.
In recent years, the agricultural and environmental sectors and localities in the province have created favorable conditions to develop and effectively maintain seafood chains, increasing income for people in rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs, the country’s pangasius exports regained growth momentum in February 2025. Export value reached USD 150 million, marking a 66% increase compared to February 2024. Cumulative pangasius export revenue for the first two months of the year totaled USD 284 million, up 11% year-on-year.
Minh Phu Seafood Corp, one of the leading enterprises in shrimp processing and export, is actively promoting cooperation with shrimp farmers to develop the shrimp industry in Ca Mau.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2024, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the Middle East continued their impressive growth, rising by 28% compared to 2023. The Middle East is now emerging as one of Vietnam’s top four tuna export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Recently, the price of Pangasius in the Mekong Delta has increased significantly, making fishermen very excited. However, looking at the overall picture of this industry, the rise in Pangasius prices is not just an opportunity, but also comes with many challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Dishes made from fish, especially pangasius, have become common and are found in nearly all restaurants, hotels, and banquets in Pakistan.
Looking back at the period from 2022 to 2024, crab exports to China have shown significant fluctuations. In 2022, China imported over 62 million USD worth of crabs, averaging 5-9 million USD per month, indicating a stable import demand from China. However, in 2023, exports sharply dropped to 13.3 million USD, averaging only 1-2 million USD per month, due to China's tighter quarantine controls and weakening consumption demand.
In January 2025, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the UK reached over 16 million USD, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year. The UK is the sixth-largest individual market for Vietnam’s shrimp imports, accounting for 5.5% of the total shrimp exports to various markets. Shrimp also holds the largest share (70%) in Vietnam’s total seafood exports to the UK.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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