Attending the meeting, representatives from An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment included Mr. Ho Thanh Binh – Deputy Director of the Department, Mr. Le Van Tinh – Deputy Head of the Sub-Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, and representatives from the Sub-Department of Sea and Islands.
VASEP side included Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam – VASEP’s General Secretary, Ms. Tran Thuy Que Phuong – VASEP’s Deputy General Secretary, Ms. Tran Thi Hien – Office Secretary, and Dr. Vu Viet Ha – Head of Marine Research Department, Research Institute for Marine Fisheries (RIMF) – Technical Consultant for the project, along with representatives from several crab-sector member enterprises, including Mai Linh Co., Ltd., Huy Nam Seafoods Co.,Ltd, and Pataya Food Industries (Vietnam) Limited.
At the meeting, both parties discussed the continuation of the Blue Swimming Crab Fishery Improvement Project (FIP), agreeing to research and formulate a cooperation agreement on activities to maintain the FIP for the blue swimming crab fishery, helping the crab sector develop sustainably. Concurrently, the two sides will coordinate to demonstrate the sustainability of the crab fishery—a crucial basis for Vietnam to petition the US side to reconsider its refusal to grant equivalence under the MMPA regulations.
According to VASEP’s report, the results from the Blue Swimming Crab Fishery Improvement Program (FIP), which has been implemented since 2012 and achieved Level A recognition by the FisheryProgress system in September 2025, show that the blue/red swimming crab fishery in Vietnam does not interact with marine mammals and does not cause significant impact on endangered, threatened, and protected aquatic species (ETP).
The representative of An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment highly appreciated VASEP’s efforts in coordinating with localities and businesses to protect the prestige and image of Vietnamese seafood in the international market. The Department affirmed its commitment to close coordination with the Association and related units to implement subsequent activities, especially the work of data collection and demonstrating the sustainability of the local crab fishery.
Speaking at the session, Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam – VASEP’s General Secretary emphasized: “The removal of the MMPA barrier is significant not only for the crab sector but also for the reputation of the entire Vietnamese seafood industry, directly impacting the livelihoods of tens of thousands of coastal fishermen and workers in the supply chain.”
The working session opened a specific direction for cooperation between VASEP and the locality in developing an action plan, collecting scientific data, and preparing the explanatory dossier for submission to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the near future.
This activity is part of VASEP's ongoing efforts, along with domestic and international partners, to maintain Vietnam’s crab exports to the US market and ensure the sustainable and responsible development of the marine fisheries sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
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
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