Under this order, the import ban on swimming crab from Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, which was originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, has been temporarily suspended until the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA/NMFS) completes its review of the comparability findings—that is, the evaluation of whether exporting countries have marine mammal protection measures comparable to those of the United States.
The lawsuit and settlement agreement
On October 11, 2025, NFI and other parties filed a lawsuit against NOAA/NMFS in New York, alleging that the agency violated administrative procedures by denying comparability findings to 240 fisheries across 46 countries, including Vietnam’s swimming crab fishery (Fishery ID 2988).
After negotiations, the US Department of Justice and the plaintiffs reached a settlement, which was submitted to the court. Key terms of the agreement include:
- The import ban on crab from the four mentioned countries will not take effect until NMFS issues a new decision.
- The affected countries, including Vietnam, will have at least 60 days to submit additional information to NOAA to support the review.
- NMFS will consult directly with the fisheries authorities of each country and provide detailed guidance on required documentation.
- NMFS will have 120 days to make a new determination, publish the results, and officially notify each country.
Fisheries covered by the temporary suspension:
- Indonesia – Fishery ID 12391 (gillnet and purse seine)
- Vietnam – Fishery ID 2988 (gillnet and purse seine)
- Philippines – Fishery ID 2129, 2130 (trap, gillnet, and purse seine)
- Sri Lanka – Fishery ID 2705 (crab net, gillnet, and purse seine)
Continued exports, but urgent action needed
According to the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the agreement allows crab exports from Vietnam and the other affected countries to continue temporarily in the US market. However, the responsibility for providing supplemental data to NMFS primarily rests with the fisheries authorities of each exporting nation.
Relevant agencies are strongly advised to complete and submit documentation within 60 days after the end of the US federal budget shutdown, meaning the deadline could fall around early January 2026.
The required information includes:
- Bycatch data (number of marine mammal entanglements) by fishery and gear type;
- Stranding records;
- Monitoring, reporting, and conservation plans (especially concerning Irrawaddy dolphins);
- Details on enforcement mechanisms and financial resources for mitigation measures.
All documents submitted to NMFS must be translated into English and sent via email to mmpa.loff@noaa.gov.
Opportunities and challenges for Vietnam’s crab fishery
The temporary suspension of the import ban is a positive signal, allowing Vietnam’s crab industry to maintain access to a vital export market in the near term. However, the final outcome will depend heavily on the quality and completeness of the information Vietnam submits to NOAA/NMFS over the next 60 days.
This is a critical period requiring close coordination between fisheries management authorities, industry associations, and exporters to finalize scientific and technical documentation and demonstrate compliance with marine mammal protection regulations.
According to the settlement approved by the US Court of International Trade, the lawsuit filed by NFI against the US Government has been dismissed without prejudice, meaning the import ban on crab from Vietnam and the other Asian countries will not take effect while NOAA/NMFS reconsiders the comparability findings.
However, the short preparation time and the quality of submitted data will be decisive factors determining whether Vietnam can regain its comparability finding status and sustain long-term access to the US crab market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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