(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On August 1, 2020, the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Vietnam (EVFTA) was officially implemented. Besides, Vietnamese tuna industry recorded a growth in exports to the EU. Along with the EU's gradual control of the Covid-19 epidemic, the effect of EVFTA has had a positive impact on Vietnam's tuna exports.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In order to contribute to raising awareness of seafood processing enterprises, fishing vessel owners and the fishing community about the importance and principles of not using child labor, prevention of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), towards building sustainable fisheries, VASEP has cooperated with the Directorate of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and International Labor Organization in Vietnam (ILO Vietnam) carrying out many propaganda activities.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the first half of August 2020, the total export value of pangasius to the EU reached US$85.55 million, down 34.1% over the same period in 2019. In which, the export value to three single markets: the Netherlands shrunk by 27.5%; Germany down 36.7% and Spain went down by 13.4%. Although the EU has been still the third-largest pangasius export market of Vietnamese seafood enterprises (after China and the US) so far, there has been no sign of recovery in pangasius exports to this market.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2020, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached US$394.6 million, up nearly 12% compared to August 2019. In the first 8 months of this year, shrimp exports reached US$2.3 billion, up 8.4% over the same period in 2019.

Despite the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, enterprises in the Mekong Delta recently have promoted the processing of high-value seafood products to increase their exports to many markets around the world. Seafood exports are showing signs of recovery and opportunities for enterprises to accelerate to finish their plans in the last months of the year.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Canada is Vietnam's 7th largest shrimp importer, accounting for 4.8% of the total shrimp export value of Vietnam. In the first eight months of 2020, Vietnam shrimp exports to Canada reached US$110.6 million, up nearly 27% over the same period in 2019. In the first 8 months of this year (except January), Vietnam shrimp exports to Canada continuously recorded double-digit growth in the remaining months.

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is updating its variance requests (VR) process, a move that will give shareholders and NGOs the opportunity to contribute to decisions on local variances to the ASC standards.

An app that lets shrimp farmers to track shrimp growth from stocking through harvest, purely by taking pictures on their smartphone, is generating very positive reviews from farmers in Vietnam.

Removing the European Commission (EC)’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing “yellow card” is not easy and cannot be done overnight, but the Vietnamese business community and associations are still determined to do, not only to meet EU requirements, but also for the sake of sustainable fishery development.