The agreement, which expired in Dec. 2011, allowed both countries to fish for albacore tuna in their neighbor’s territorial waters. Negotiations were ongoing to renew it and both parties were scheduled to meet in April to address U.S. concerns that had been raised in December. But, the U.S. negotiators unexpectedly visited the Canadian government last week and announced a no reciprocal fishing policy for 2012, according to the Canadian Highly Migratory Species Foundation (CHMSF) and the B.C. Tuna Fishermen’s Association.
Depending on the temperatures this year, the migration of the tuna will determine which country could lose out, says Clayton, CHMSF director. If it turns out to be a colder year and the tuna stay south, he explains, it will impact the livelihoods of the Canadian fishing crews, their families, and the buyers and processors. If it happens to be a warmer year and the tuna move north, the suspension might not be a problem for Canada, but it could impact the U.S. fishermen who are barred from fishing there, he continues. “You never know where the tuna are going to be.”
In recent years, the majority of both countries’ vessels have been fishing in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In 2009, the U.S. fleet caught 94% of its albacore tuna in the U.S. EEZ, 2% in the Canadian EEZ, and 4% in international waters, according to Mark Helvey of the National Marine Fisheries Services. In the same year, 110 Canadian vessels fished in the U.S. EEZ while only 29 U.S. vessels fished in Canadian waters, according to a 2010 review of the treaty consultations, posted on the American Albacore Fishing Association (AAFA) website.
The situation has become “unhealthy,” writes Donald McIsaac, executive director of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, in a letter sent March 13 to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
McIsaac notes Canadian fishing in U.S. waters has increased, along with their catch per unit effort, and the overcrowding on U.S. fishing grounds has led to confrontations.
While the treaty limits the number of Canadian boats in U.S. waters to 110, Clayton says, there is no limit on the amount of U.S. vessels that can fish in Canada’s EEZ. Canada’s limit had been previously higher but was reduced in recent years, he adds. A follow-up meeting between governments may be scheduled in May.
“Now we’re in a situation where we will still try to persuade those people that make the final decisions so that the reciprocal fishing maintains the best interests of both U.S. and Canadian fishermen,” Clayton says.
An economic study, which was to be released ahead of the April meeting, was commissioned to determine Canada’s impact on U.S. ports, a concern raised back in December. Its information was intended to “have quite a value and impact on the decisions,” says Clayton.
While he hasn’t seen the report yet, Clayton says the Canadian fleet contributes “many millions of dollars” to the U.S. ports where the fishermen dock, buy fuel and supplies, and offload.
In 2009, 26 Canadian vessels out of 110 made 51 landings for 650 tons at U.S. ports, according to the 2010 AAFA review of treaty consultations. In the previous year, 46 vessels made 122 landings for 1,359 tons at U.S. ports. During the consultations, Canada said the change was due to a higher concentration of tuna in the border area. If the suspension continues for 2012, one country risks the loss of a viable fishing ground.
“There are only so many boats within the [Canadian] fleet that are capable of sustainable fishing out in those [international] areas, so it reduces our opportunity certainly,” says Clayton.
Two fishing groups who reportedly support the no reciprocal fishing policy, the AAFA and the Western Fishboat Owners Association, could not be reached for comment last Thursday.
The rest of the U.S.-Canada treaty remains intact at the moment, and it covers access to ports. American vessels, for instance, are still able to offload in Canadian ports even if they are not fishing in Canada.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
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