(seafood.com) Anyone concerned
“Now it will be easier for people outside of
But environmentalists say doubt remains about the validity of state testing.
“The bottom line is, should we really have oil and gas products in our seafood?” said Anne Rolfes, director of the
The website, Gulfsource.org, allows users to scroll through samples or search by area, data or sample type. It was created to show that state testing has found no levels of oil in water, sediment or seafood that are a danger to human health, officials said. Test results for dispersants are also available.
Tests are conducted in waters across the state, taking 143 crabs, fish, shrimp and oysters and 96 sediment and water samples each month for testing. The testing is done by the state departments of Wildlife and Fisheries, Health and Hospitals, Environmental Quality and Agriculture and Forestry.
“Though we've been testing seafood, water and sediment since April 30, 2010, in response to the BP oil spill, the information has been difficult to widely distribute to the public,” said Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham. “We hope the public will utilize GulfSource.org to find out what the safety test results in seafood from areas they fish or from waters they consume reveal. Rebuilding our seafood brand starts with rebuilding consumer confidence in our product.”
Through the website's front page, you can scroll through a timeline of samples taken between May 16, 2010, and Friday.
Samples laid out on the website show:
A Google map of where they were taken and a list of oil-related chemicals officials tested for.
What was found in each sample.
What the “level of concern,” the level considered harmful to human health, is for each chemical.
You can also search the data by the time samples were taken, where they were taken, and by species and sample type. Those search results return a less user-friendly data table listing the date of samples, whether oil chemicals were above detectable limits and the location's coordinates. The data are available for download with the “export” buttons at the bottom of the page.
Rolfes said issues have been raised with the sensitivity of oil tests. There are also questions about whether the standard the government is using for determining whether chemicals pose a harm to human health is set too high.
Recent studies by scientists at LSU have shown that even if low levels of oil don't pose a harm to human health, even the tiniest amounts of oil can have serious impacts on fish.
Studying killifish, an abundant marsh fish, scientists found damage to gills and genetic changes that indicate future reproductive and developmental problems related to oil.
“Why are we saying it's OK, it's an acceptable level of oil and gas?' ” Rolfes said.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia together contributed USD 108 million to Vietnam’s pangasius exports, accounting for around 15% of the industry’s total export turnover. Amid tightening global whitefish supply and slowing demand in several traditional markets, Latin America is increasingly becoming an important expansion destination for the sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Alongside the development of high-tech shrimp farming, Ha Tinh Province is accelerating the cultivation of high-value freshwater aquatic species, with red tilapia emerging as an effective and sustainable farming model.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
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