(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
According to the US notice, in January 2026 Vietnam split its previous fishery code into four separate swimming crab fisheries based on target species and fishing gear, including Fishery IDs 13164, 13206, 13204, and 13205. After reviewing Vietnam’s submissions, supplementary information, and related data, US authorities determined that these four fisheries are comparable in effectiveness to US management programs. This is considered a positive development for Vietnam’s swimming crab industry, especially after the NMFS’s preliminary determination in August 2025 had placed the swimming crab fisheries of Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines among those not meeting MMPA requirements.
Alongside Vietnam, the swimming crab fisheries of Indonesia and Sri Lanka were also granted comparability findings. In contrast, the Philippines did not receive comparability recognition for its related swimming crab fisheries. As a result, swimming crabs and products derived from those Philippine fisheries will no longer be allowed to enter the United States starting June 11, 2026 — 30 days after the notice publication date.
This means that Vietnamese swimming crab exports to the United States will no longer require a Certificate of Admissibility (COA) and can continue to enter the market under normal procedures as before. However, businesses should note that if imported raw materials are used, they must not source materials from fisheries that are banned or not recognized as comparable in the exporting country. If materials are sourced from other fisheries, the corresponding COA from that country will still be required.
According to NOAA Fisheries, the comparability finding granted to Vietnam will remain valid until December 31, 2029. However, NOAA also noted that the finding may be reconsidered or revoked if Vietnam’s management program no longer meets the applicable requirements. NOAA recommended that Vietnam continue maintaining and strengthening efforts to minimize the risk of mortality and serious injury to marine mammals, including the development of observer programs, electronic monitoring systems, and conservation measures for species such as the Irrawaddy dolphin.
Recognition by the United States helps Vietnam’s swimming crab industry maintain access to an important export market while creating more room for stable exports in the coming years. Nevertheless, MMPA requirements also demonstrate that sustainable fishing practices, fisheries monitoring, and marine mammal protection will increasingly become critical conditions for Vietnam’s seafood sector to maintain its competitive position in the US market.