The Secretary of State’s annual ACE recognizes and honors U.S. companies that uphold high standards as responsible members of their communities.
Established in 1999, the award seeks to highlight ways in which U.S. companies represent American values in the way they do business, in line with international best practices.
This year, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken presented six American companies with the 2021 ACE in three categories that reflect policy priorities and key global challenges, namely climate innovation, health security, and economic inclusion, according to the website of the department.
In the climate innovation category, Australis Aquaculture has been honored for “pioneering climate-smart ocean farming in Vietnam’s marine tropics and developing technology to cultivate a seaweed species with the potential to eliminate methane emissions from cattle when part of their diet.”
The U.S. company started aquaculture in Van Phong Bay in the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa in 2010, focusing on investment, technical research, manpower recruitment and training, and developing international markets for barramundi, or Asian sea bass, according to Tran Cong Khoi, deputy director of the Department of Aquaculture at Vietnam’s Directorate of Fisheries.
Australis has made its name as one of the most modern marine fish farming companies in Vietnam, Khoi assessed.
The firm currently exports about 10,000 metric tons of fish a year, with four processing factories in Khanh Hoa employing about 1,000 workers, according to CEO and co-founder Josh Goldman.
The company is on track to increase its fish production by about 35 percent per year, the CEO said.
This month, Australis is expected to complete the development of its largest automated feed barge and a new large automated harvester that can harvest 200 metric of fish per day.
In addition, it is also planning to build a modern seafood processing factory in Ninh Thuy Industrial Park in Khanh Hoa’s Ninh Hoa Town in 2022.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
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