There are more and more pangasius processing and export companies receiving quality certificates like Best Aquaculture Pratices (BAP), Good Aquaculture Pratices (GlobalGAP), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)…In which, ASC is the newest standard applied by Vietnam pangasius industry. This is an accreditation, certification and products-labeling program for responsibly farmed-pangasius. With ASC certificate, Vietnam pangasius industry may strengthen competitiveness and keep its shares in traditional and potential markets where importers and consumers are more interested in quality and product value.
The ASC standards have main 7 principles including: respecting established local and national legal frameworks; strengthening management to avoid negative impacts on other users and the environment; minimizing negative impacts of pangasius farming on water and land resources; minimizing impact of pangasius aquaculture on the local pangasius populations; sustainable feed and feeding practices; minimizing ecosystem and human health impacts; social responsibility. To social responsibility, ASC standard focuses on two requirements (including labors’ age and their health and safety); and responsibility for local communities.
However, many fish producers shared that they were confused even at the first step of ASC standards applying. Some ASC’s information and guidelines are not adequate to conditions in Vietnam. For example, the criteria on pond effluent management in minimizing negative impact on water resources. ASC-applying farms are subjected to the wastewater tax while Vietnam has not set rules on this issue yet. Moreover, they need licence issued by Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MONRE) if discharging 5,000 cubic meter of waste water per day referring to the government’s Decree No.149/2004 and MONRE’s Circular No.02/2005. This caused waste of time and money.
Vietnam’s guidelines to list and protect local endangered aquatic species are also confusing and incoherent among localities, withdrawing concerns of farm operators. To solve the obstacle, WWF Vietnam has working in cooperation with Can Tho University to conduct a study and build up database on Red List of endangered species and IUCN for Mekong Delta region. Local fish farm’s environmental technicians and experts can base on these data to revise the farming chain to satisfy ASC’s criteria at reasonable cost.
It is also unrealizable to use the Kjeldahl method complying with ISO 17025 to assess testing laboratories in Vietnam because none of laboratories knows about the method. To this current difficult, WWF Vietnam suggested sampling and testing laboratory under ISO 17025, and then auditors would base on testing results to decide to use Kjeldahl or not. Some laboratories in Vietnam begin to register to be granted ISO 17025 certification for Kjeldahl method.
(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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