The United States is a global leader in sustainable fisheries and is one of the major countries early engaged in international efforts to combat IUU fishing and trade fraud through operational programs, measures and legal systems to minimize fishing and trade in IUU catches that damage the marine environment and fisheries resources.
In recent years, the United States has had specific programs and regulations to combat IUU fishing such as the 2015 IUU Anti-Catching Enforcement Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Dolphin-safe program, the Program to Control Imported Fisheries ... according to the regulations applicable to commercial fisheries and export fisheries of the countries. Subjects of application are products imported from identified countries that may have IUU fishing or effects affecting marine mammals.
In addition to the anti-IUU regulations and recommendations that the EU asked Vietnam to implement after issuing the IUU yellow card warning on October 23, 2017, the US regulations are also having a significant impact on the export of Vietnamese seafood to this market.
The United States is always one of the three largest seafood import markets of Vietnam, but the strict regulations of this market make the US share go from 20% in previous years to 17% of the total seafood export turnover of Vietnam in the past 2 years. For Vietnamese seafood and the world, the United States is always an important market, so maintaining stability and boosting exports to this market is not only to increase foreign currency for the country but also affirm the credit and position of Vietnamese seafood in the world market.
With the aim of helping the Vietnamese fisheries community, especially seafood exporters to know about the latest and important information and regulations of the US market related to combating IUU fishing, fishing, responsible farming and exporting, ensuring food safety and hygiene standards, the International Cooperation Department - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development collaborated with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) to compile and publish a guidebook called "A Guide to Compliance with Regulations on Combating IUU Fishing and Necessary Recommendations for Exporting Seafood to the United States".
The guidebook covers the concepts, regulations and programs of combating IUU fishing and marine resource conservation by FAO of the United Nations, the United States and Vietnam, with emphasis on regulations and the US programs that apply to exporting countries such as the anti-IUU fishing program, the seafood import surveillance program, the marine mammal conservation program, as well as the introduction of food safety regulations that seafood producers and exporters need to care about and comply with when exporting to this market.
The small 70-page manual, printed in A5 size the book is hopefully a useful document, helping the farming community, fishermen and businesses to realize and improve production, processing and export processes, aiming to maintain the market and increase seafood export turnover to the United States.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $989.5 million in November 2025, up 64.6% year-on-year. The robust monthly performance played a pivotal role in driving the total export turnover for the first 11 months of 2025 to $10.5 billion, representing a 19% increase compared with the same period in 2024.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s crab exports reached USD 81 million in the first 11 months of 2025, with the United States accounting for more than 82% of total value. While newly imposed reciprocal tariffs and the enforcement of provisions under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) pose significant challenges for Vietnam, the European Union is emerging as a promising growth market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment has recently issued a plan to develop specialized crab raw material zones serving official export channels, covering a scale of around 50,000 hectares. This marks a significant shift in the sea crab industry towards professional production aligned with market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.comvn) According to the Tay Ninh Statistics Office, fisheries output in the province fell significantly in November 2025 due to the impact of storms and heavy rainfall, which delayed harvesting activities, particularly for pangasius.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (1995–2025). In parallel with the nation's progress in international economic integration, bilateral seafood trade has followed a remarkably impressive growth trajectory, expanding from an initial scale of just tens of millions of US dollars to nearly $2 billion annually. This growth has positioned the United States as Vietnam’s largest seafood export market for many consecutive years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 12, 2025, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) issued document 231/CV-VASEP regarding strengthening measures to combat IUU fishing and working with the Government to lift the EC's IUU yellow card warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is easy to farm and provides high economic and nutritional value, making it a sought-after export commodity in many countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in the first 10 months of 2025 recorded significant progress, reaching more than USD 9.5 billion, up 15% year-on-year. This result reflects the sector’s persistent efforts amid a highly volatile market, especially policy shocks from the US Although signs of slowdown emerged in the third quarter due to countervailing taxes, key product groups still maintained strong momentum and created a foundation for full-year exports to reach USD 11 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s agreement with the United States on a framework for reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade—reached during the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia—has generated strong optimism for Vietnamese exports, including tuna. Numerous positive points in the joint statement have raised high expectations for Vietnamese export goods, but turning these expectations into tangible benefits remains a long and challenging journey.
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
