Mr. Tran Dinh Luan noted that while the 2026 growth targets are set against a backdrop of significant headwinds, the sector’s overarching approach is to identify risks early in order to formulate appropriate and proactive implementation plans.
To ensure a steady supply of raw materials for export, the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance will collaborate with local authorities to organize solution-oriented conferences from the beginning of the farming season, focusing on key cultured species as well as new, high-potential species to maintain the industry’s growth momentum.
In parallel, the sector will strengthen environmental monitoring and early warning systems, tighten disease control, expand high-tech and recirculating aquaculture systems, reduce emissions and promote more efficient use of water resources. At the same time, food safety controls will be reinforced across the entire value chain, ensuring compliance with requirements for both domestic consumption and export markets.
The sector will continue to more concretely and forcefully shift from a production-oriented mindset to an economic approach to fisheries, moving away from single-value growth toward multi-value integrated growth. Particular emphasis will be placed on gradually embedding new market requirements, including circular economy, animal welfare, emissions reduction and socio-environmental responsibility - into aquaculture practices.
From an export perspective, Nguyen Hoai Nam, Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, noted that international markets increasingly require legal compliance for wild-caught products and mandatory farming area codes for aquaculture. However, the issuance of farm codes remains affected by regional planning complexities and administrative decentralization.
Accordingly, VASEP has recommended that the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance continue to accompany and support enterprises by removing bottlenecks, accelerating implementation and promoting digitalization of certification and verification processes for caught seafood to enhance traceability and simplify export procedures.
The Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance reported that total aquatic production in 2025 reached 9.95 million tons, up 3% year-on-year. Of this, capture fisheries amounted to 3.83 million tonnes, slightly receding to 99.8% of the previous year's level, while aquaculture reached 6.1 million tons, up 5.1%. Seafood export turnover is estimated at over $11 billion, representing a significant 12.7% jump from 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.
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
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