Following previous failure to agree on a deal that has resulted in a weak temporary agreement, officials have been working to come up with a new conservation measure before a full tuna commission meeting commences in Cairns, Australia in December.
China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, Europe and the Philippines are all big players in the Pacific tuna fishery and are working with Pacific Island nations that own much of the fishery through the Central and Western Pacific Fisheries Commission to protect the stocks.
In an interview with Radio Australia, commission executive director Glenn Hurry reports there is much work to be done before an agreement can happen. The interview, excerpted fromRadio Australia, follows:
Commission executive director Glenn Hurry: We need a 30% reduction in the catch of bigeye tuna, and we have tried for the last two years to get that, and we have been unsuccessful.
So this will be the third year we have tried, and we really do need to cap the catch of skipjack tuna this year, so another 100,000 metric ton reduction in the catch of skipjack.
Even though we had more vessels in the fishery, fishing harder than they have ever fished before, so the effort levels are up but the catch of skipjack is down, so we need to find a way of capping the catch of skipjack and also reining in the catch of yellowfin tuna, as well.
So there are three species that are the bulk of this fishery and we have got all of them a point where we need to begin to restrict catch on them. I don’t think we’ve got an option we have to make a decision in Cairns.
Radio Australia’s Jemima Garrett: One of the crucial decisions will be on capping the number of vessels – not easy with a rash of new boats under construction in shipyards across Asia.
In the past decade the Pacific, especially the 8 nations that are Parties to the Nauru Agreement, have put a huge effort into surveillance of fish catches and into improving economic returns to the Pacific countries.
The distant water fishing nations have acknowleged some of the problems in the fishery but are baulking at cutting the catch.
Hurry: We’ve got quite a distance between the parties in what they are likely to agree to.
Garrett: The large purse seine vessels take most of the catch and are making good profits. Why is it turning out to be so hard to come up with a conservation measure?
Hurry: I think that is a real issue in it. The profits in this are substantial at the moment, which is leading to the construction of new vessels but also the level of payment to the Pacific Islanders. Access fees [have] gone up a lot too. About six years ago, when the Parties to the Nauru Agreement brought in the Vessel Day Scheme, a day was worth about $900 a day. They have now got a floor price of $6500 a day and they are selling for $7,000 to $7,500 a day, and I think that return will increase over time.
So there is a lot of money now coming in to Pacific Island countries from fishing. There is also a lot of money going into the companies and while people are making substantial profits they don’t necessarily want to reduce them but the problem is unless you reduce now you run into long term sustainability problems and you will be forced to lower your catches later on. Sensible decisions now will save us a lot of problems further down the track.
Garrett: How urgent is it that the meeting in Cairns comes up with a new measure?
Hurry: I think it is fundamental to us moving forward, Jemima. I don’t think there is any option for us but to prove our credentials and make a decision on these tropical tunas.
Garrett: That may not be easy. The move to extend the ban on fish aggregating devices is facing opposition from fishing nations that fear for the profitability of their fleet and from Pacific countries demanding $15 million a month as compensation for lost income.
Longline fleets say they have already made the 30% cut to the catch of bigeye tuna and should not have to take another hit.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang is focusing on expanding climate-adaptive marine aquaculture models, aiming for safe and sustainable production. This approach not only enhances economic efficiency but also helps fishermen stabilize their livelihoods amid weather fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to China (including Mainland China and Hong Kong) reached $483 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2024. October alone posted $73 million, a strong 19% increase year-on-year. The Chinese market currently accounts for nearly 27% of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam Customs, the country’s lobster exports posted another strong month in October 2025, reaching $93 million - a 75% increase from the same month in 2024. This performance extends the sector’s impressive growth streak from earlier in the year, pushing cumulative exports for the first 10 months to $712 million, up an extraordinary 135% year-over-year. Within the product mix, green lobster remained the dominant driver, accounting for 98% of total export value, with $700 million recorded in the first 10 months - a 141% jump year-on-year. In contrast, exports of spiny lobster and other lobster varieties declined slightly by 22% and 1%, respectively, indicating that market demand is becoming increasingly concentrated on the most sought-after product line.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
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
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn