The good news was released by the Scientific Committee of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in the latest report published by this organization.
The paper estimates that the bluefin tuna spawning stock again approaches and even exceeds 300,000 tonnes that had been reached between the late '50s and early '70s, and that was reduced to about 150,000 tonnes in the first decade of XXI century.
Cepesca claimed the responsibility and the efforts of the Spanish tuna industry to achieve the improvement of this resource status should be acknowledged through compliance with the control measures of the ICCAT Bluefin Tuna Recovery Plan.
In addition, the entity requests the setting of fishing quotas under the same criteria as that in previous years in order to increase them while maintaining the objective of bluefin tuna recovery.
Once the goal is met, Cepesca emphasizes that "it is necessary to also protect the fishers whose lifestyles have been jeopardized, and in many cases they have lost their jobs."
Furthermore, the entity considers it appropriate to keep the current management measures and the fishery control: Fishing ban in the case of under 30 kilo specimens; Temporary fishing constraints; Obligation of having inspectors onboard each boat; Control of fishing effort and all the landings; Control of tuna trade in the markets; Persecution of illegal fishing for this species.
Cepesca Secretary General, Javier Garat, recalled that "since the ICCAT Recovery Plan was launched in 2007, the European seine, longline, rod, hand line and net trap fleets engaged in fishing for bluefin tuna have had their fishing period, capture capabilities and number of ships reduced, with considerable impact on unemployment."
Therefore, at the organization they believe that "it is time to start picking the fruits resulting from the great sacrifice made."
Furthermore, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) requested efforts should be kept to consolidate the bluefin tuna population recovery.
"We have developed campaigns to save the bluefin tuna for 12 years and it is great news to know this upward trend," said Raul Garcia, the head of Fisheries of WWF Spain.
"However, we need to ensure that this progress is maintained over time, so we can not lower our guard and we must increase efforts. This species management will not be successful overnight," he added.
But while emphasizing that these early positive signs "come from an improvement in the fishery management," he warned that "there remains still a major concern about illegal fishing due to the existing overcapacity and to the control weaknesses."
(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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