“We have a very simple purchase ask for companies that we work with,” says Bill Fox, Fisheries vice-president at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) US. “Basically our number one policy is buy MSC certified tuna, but with the logo on the can to ensure that the tuna they’re getting is in fact MSC certified tuna.”
He estimates that currently only about 15,000 tons whole round tuna catch is available with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) blue and white eco-label, out of the global tuna catch of 4.4 million tons, most of this being US pole and line caught albacore. These certified products mostly go to niche markets in Europe where they attain high prices, so there hasn’t been much success in getting penetration in the U.S. market, he says.
There is huge potential, however, for a sustainable supply of the lower priced skipjack tuna from eight Pacific island countries. The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) free school skipjack purse seine fishery – which produces half of the global skipjack catch – gained MSC approval last year. So far, no MSC certified PNA tuna has been delivered because the fishery is still waiting to get its Chain of Custody certification. This certification depends on the fishermen to catch according to MSC approved procedures, without the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs), and by keeping the certified skipjack catch completely separate from the tuna caught with FADs throughout the entire supply chain.
Last week, the PNA largely blamed the region’s boat owners for the delay and suggested their immense profits – from today’s record high raw material price of USD 2,350 CFR Bangkok for skipjack – as a reason for the lack of motivation to fish sustainably.
Once the MSC certified PNA tuna – co-branded as “Pacifical” – is available, Fox says the U.S. market should pick up because there will be a lot more competition. “We do have market pressure to buy MSC certified tuna.”
Besides working with retailers, Fox says WWF US also partners with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), a coalition of tuna industry leaders and scientists, to help MSC tuna reach the market.
“When we helped to establish ISSF, the main goal from our perspective was to get all tuna fisheries globally in a condition to get MSC certified and then WWF’s role would be, once that happens, to work with the fisheries to get them certified.”
ISSF’s conservation measures are meant to eliminate all the barriers to tuna fisheries becoming MSC certified, says Fox. He says the time-bound measures are designed to ensure ISSF companies are buying from boats that fish sustainably.
When asked about the unsustainable fishing currently occurring in the PNA, where ISSF companies source their tuna, Fox said ISSF members are not fishers.
“The ISSF participating companies have very few boats. They’re primarily processors, distributors and retailers – they’re not fishers. In fact, companies that are predominantly fishing companies are specifically excluded from ISSF membership because that’s the sector that has to really reform in order to provide sustainable tuna fisheries.”
Most of the ISSF companies are either directly or indirectly involved in fishing activities in the PNA, however. For instance, Dongwon Industries, one of the world’s largest tuna catching companies with a fleet of 36 boats, is the parent company to StarKist and Dongwon F&B, both members of ISSF.
Fox says the vessels in question are flagged to the PNA countries and therefore, the PNA countries should be asked “why they can’t get their flagged vessels to fish according to the measures that they all agreed to during the MSC certification.”
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
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