VASEP works with An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment: Coordinating to remove MMPA barriers to blue swimming crab fishery

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.