Vietnam’s First ASC Clam Farm Celebrates Certification
Lenger Seafood Vietnam is a clam producer based in the Nam Dinh province in the north of the country, and following certification by independent conformity assessment body Control Union it became the first of its kind to achieve ASC certification in Vietnam.
In fact, while there are already ASC certified clam farms elsewhere, Lenger is the first anywhere in the world to achieve certification for farming this particular species of clam – known as the hard clam (Meretrix Lyrata).
Last month an event was held by the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development of Vietnam in coordination with Nam Dinh Province’s People’s Committee. A representative of Control Union Vietnam was also in attendance to present the certificate.
Vietnam is the world’s third biggest producer of ASC certified seafood by volume, but this has so far all come from shrimp and pangasius farms. Clam farms are certified against the ASC Bivalve Standard, which also covers oysters, mussels, and others. While there are currently around 260 farms around the world certified against the ASC Bivalve Standard, the majority of these are oyster and mussel farms, with just two certified clam farms prior to Lenger’s certification, both of which were for different species of clam.
While bivalves can be ideal species to farm with minimal impacts, if they are farmed irresponsibly they can still have negative social and environmental effects, which the ASC Bivalve Standard aims to minimize. In fact, a recent blog looked at why we do need to certify these fascinating creatures.
Control Union is one of the third-party bodies that carry out independent audits of farms against the ASC standards. The ASC programme is a third-party certification programme, meaning all audits and decisions around certification are carried out independently. This is widely regarded as the most robust and consistent method of certification.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho City statistics indicate that in 2025, following the merger of three former administrative entities - Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang - fisheries output in 2025 increased by 6.23% compared with 2024 with aquaculture production nearly 9.1 times higher than capture fisheries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ca Mau province has achieved significant, comprehensive and substantive progress in combating IUU fishing in 2025, successfully fulfilling all tasks directed by the central government and strengthening fisheries governance. These efforts have established a solid foundation for the nationwide effort to lift the EC’s "yellow card" warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau has exceeded its 2025 production targets, reaching nearly 595,000 tons of shrimp. This milestone reinforces the province’s position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp producer and a bright spot in the country’s seafood sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, cumulative shrimp exports from the beginning of the year through November reached $4.3 billion, up 21% year-on-year, continuing to serve as the primary growth driver of the entire seafood sector. In November alone, export turnover amounted to $393 million, up 14%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, the fisheries sector continued to stand out as a bright spot in Ca Mau’s economic landscape, maintaining positive growth in both output and value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By the end of November 2025, Vietnam’s total pangasius export turnover had exceeded the $2 billion threshold, registering a 9% compared with the same period in 2024. In November alone, pangasius exports reached $195 million, also posting a 9% increase year-on-year, underscoring a stable recovery trajectory for the sector in the final months of the year.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang is focusing on expanding climate-adaptive marine aquaculture models, aiming for safe and sustainable production. This approach not only enhances economic efficiency but also helps fishermen stabilize their livelihoods amid weather fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to China (including Mainland China and Hong Kong) reached $483 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2024. October alone posted $73 million, a strong 19% increase year-on-year. The Chinese market currently accounts for nearly 27% of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam Customs, the country’s lobster exports posted another strong month in October 2025, reaching $93 million - a 75% increase from the same month in 2024. This performance extends the sector’s impressive growth streak from earlier in the year, pushing cumulative exports for the first 10 months to $712 million, up an extraordinary 135% year-over-year. Within the product mix, green lobster remained the dominant driver, accounting for 98% of total export value, with $700 million recorded in the first 10 months - a 141% jump year-on-year. In contrast, exports of spiny lobster and other lobster varieties declined slightly by 22% and 1%, respectively, indicating that market demand is becoming increasingly concentrated on the most sought-after product line.
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