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) In March 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded strong growth, reaching USD 15 million, up 109% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively, in the first three months of 2026, export value reached USD 38 million, an increase of 174% year-on-year. This result highlights the sector’s robust expansion and reflects rapid growth across multiple markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In March 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value reached USD 182 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively, exports in the first three months of 2026 totaled USD 514 million, an increase of 17% year-on-year, indicating that the growth momentum is being maintained despite signs of slowdown in some markets during March.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During peak heat periods, farmers raising pangasius, tilapia, and other freshwater fish in Dong Thap are implementing various technical measures to reduce risks and maintain stable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
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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