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) 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.
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