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) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production 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
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