Organic aquaculture has proved to be a successful niche market in the European Union and Canada.
There is also a big demand for organic products in the US, as people want confidence in what they are buying, said George Lockwood, Chair of the USDA official Aquaculture Working Group.
Big sales of EU organic products have overtaken sales of domestic salmon in some areas and organic production could help the US catfish industry compete with cheaper imports, so having its own organic product range would be very beneficial to the US industry.
Despite this demand and 15 years on, the standard is still in the making, with one delay after another on posting a proposed Final Rule for organic aquaculture. Speaking to TheFishSite, Mr Lockwood said he is concerned over the delays and thinks the strong voice of anti-aquaculture groups in the US may be to blame. "In early 2010, after much consideration, the National Organic Standard Board officially recommended a comprehensive set of proposed rules to National Organic Programme (NOP). The next step in 2010 would have been for NOP to officially and immediately go into final rulemaking with these recommendations.
However, NOP failed to do anything until early 2013 when they finally assembled a team of four USDA employees to pursue final rule making," said Mr Lockwood. "We were told that their work would be completed later that year with the official posting of a set of proposed rules well before the end of 2013. The next step after posting would be to seek and receive public comments. We have yet to see a proposed rule from NOP. "The most recent promised posting date of later in April 2014 is apparently slipping, and we have been unable to learn anything about a new proposed date or why there is one more delay after many early delays," continued Mr Lockwood. The Aquaculture Working Group also recently petitioned for the inclusion of 10 synthetic substances in the standard. These substances, which include chlorine, vitamins, trace minerals, carbon dioxide and vaccines, are all essential to aquaculture and there can be no organic aquaculture production without them, said Mr Lockwood.
However, the NOP is refusing to allow the Aquaculture Working Group from advising the USDA National Organic Standards Board Livestock Committee on how these materials are actually used in aquaculture, said Mr Lockwood. Mr Lockwood stated that he therefore fears that the USDA National Organic Standards Board will not adopt the use of these materials in workable and sensible ways.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
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