Imports of bigeye tuna by Japan followed a similar trend, with a 29 percent fall for frozen bigeye when comparing August numbers for 2012 and 2013. Fresh bigeye imports also took a hit, declining 27 percent from 2,117 tons to 1,525 tons.
A 12.3 percent fall in Japan’s seafood imports as a whole from August 2012 to August 2013 are thought to be fueled by the drastic decline in the imports of these two tuna species.
Yellowfin and bigeye tuna are important products for the lucrative Japanese sushi market. The tuna is often hyper-frozen instantly to temperatures as low as -16 degrees Celsius to preserve the freshness of the tuna. In August 2012 alone, Japan imported as much as 14,774 tons of frozen bigeye. This figure dropped to 10,487 tons in August this year.
Concerns surrounding the stock status of both bigeye and yellowfin have grown due to high by-catch numbers of juvenile tuna caught from fishing on Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has made strong efforts to reduce the amount of fishing on FADs by tuna fleets fishing in the Pacific Ocean.
A whole 50 percent of the world’s canned tuna is caught using FADs by vessels catching skipjack. The by-catch of juvenile bigeye tuna from this activity in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean was just less than 80,000 tons in 2010, and has risen severely from around 3,000 tons before the beginning of the FAD boom in 1980.
Declining stock levels of these tuna species can affect the ability for tuna fleets to catch adult yellowfin and bigeye, leaving less catch available for global exportation.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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