This is an important step to stop Vietnamese seafood from being warned or prohibited from importing to key markets such as the European Union and the United States.
According to VASEP, Viet Nam could be fined by the EU with a "yellow card" if it does not promptly and fully adhere to EU’s requirements on fighting IUU fishing, which are related to the five recommendations made by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE)’s working group during the reviewed period of May 15-19, 2017, in Viet Nam.
If a country is subject to a yellow card (an official EU warning), it will create nervousness among EU retailers in connection with seafood imported from that country, and they may substitute the seafood from that particular country. If the country is fined with a red card, its seafood products will be prohibited from import into the EU.
The IUU regulation applies to all vessels of EU or the third country at EU ports and all seafood products imported to or exported from EU countries. This regulation is to ensure that no illegally harvested fishery products enter the EU market.
VASEP said its members were aware of the importance of the IUU regulations and relevance for seafood businesses, and realised that the fight against IUU would be a long-term process that needed active and regular participation of seafood businesses.
VASEP members said it is necessary to set up a management board for seafood businesses to fight against IUU fishing.
EU played a leading role in the global fight against IUU fishing. The IUU regulation came into effect of October 1, 2010, aiming to ensure that only seafood products certified by the national authorised body or exporting country are imported to or exported from EU.
The list of IUU fishing vessels will be regularly updated, which are defined by the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).
Deputy Head of the Directorate of Fisheries’ Technology Science and International Co-operation Department Nguyen Thi Trang Nhung told nonnghiep.vn newspaper that 24 countries and territories had received penalty cards under the IUU regulation, including countries and territories with modern fishing fleets, of which 13 nations had their penalty cards withdrawn thanks to improved management systems, including Ghana, Guinea, Panama and Papua New Guinea, as well as the Philippines, South Korea and Sri Lanka.
Of the remainder, three nations were given red cards -- Cambodia, Conmoros, and Saint Vincent and Grenadines -- and eight nations and territories were given yellow cards, including Siera Leone, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Tuvalu.
As for the role of State management, Nhung said relevant agencies were taking urgent measures to prevent Vietnamese fishing vessels from illegally fishing in the waters of the Pacific islands. It would focus on strengthening controlling measures at ports in localities, increasing inspection and expanding the network of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for large vessels.
“The Vietnamese agencies will strengthen co-operation on fighting IUU fishing with countries in the region and the Pacific islands and join the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Agreement on Port State Measures and the UN Fish Stocks Agreement," she said.
Source: VNS
(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.
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