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) 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
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