The association, which represents the interest of service providers to the tuna industry, said the levy of USD 350 per tonne imposed in June last year on foreign fish exported directly from Fiji has led to job losses for locals.
Spokesperson John Lee said the tax was applied without having consulted with service providers. "The fish is caught outside Fiji's waters and is considered foreign," he said, Fiji Times reports.
The government's effort to help the industry failed to take into account the deleterious economic effect the levy would have on service providers.
"Imposing tax on trans-shipment of cargo or fish on an international port is in breach of World Customs Organisation and World Trade Organisation (WTO), of which Fiji's Customs Authority and the government are party. The alternate way this levy could be imposed is through an affordable service fee as mentioned in the budget on the Fisheries segment," Lee continued.
Most fishing boat owners, he noted, were now seeking other countries with which to conduct trans-shipment. Some businesses have had to deal with this shift by laying off workers, he explained.
Grahame Southwick, Fiji Tuna Boat Owners Association spokesperson, said the fisheries authority two years ago started to let foreign fishing vessels based in Fiji to export without the use of Fiji’s processing plants.
"This allowed them to come to the Kings Wharf, and using their own crew, unload the fish directly into containers and ship it out. This meant no fish for all the Fiji processors, and Pacific American Fish Company, Inc (PAFCO) was reduced to three-day weeks, the five Suva processors had empty factories and staff members were laid off,” he said.
His association supports the expansion of the Fiji fleet beyond the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), although Southwick specified that it must be carried out by way of arrangements with neighbouring states or on the high seas – and the expansion arrangements must be for Fiji boats.
Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department has informed that Fiji is evaluating how to lower the number of chartered fishing vessels because “partners” may offer the service at lower costs.
The Fiji Tuna Boat Owners Association has already voiced its concern about the number of licences granted to operators as well as about overfishing, and there have been recent consultations among stakeholders and key players of the fisheries sector over the Tuna Management Development Plan.
(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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