Vietnam works to overcome US seafood export barriers

THE HANOI TIMES — Urgent measures are needed to ensure compliance and maintain exports to the US, Vietnam's largest seafood market, local insiders said.

New regulations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are raising concerns about disruptions to Vietnam’s seafood exports. In a February 2025 assessment, NOAA found Vietnam out of compliance with MMPA standards, putting key exports - tuna, swordfish, mackerel, and squid - at risk of a US import ban from January 1, 2026.

Nguyen Hoai Nam, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), warned of another challenge: the US plans to expand its Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) to more species, tightening traceability requirements.

“This will further increase compliance costs for Vietnamese exporters,” he said.

The US remains Vietnam’s largest seafood market, spending US$1.8 billion on Vietnamese seafood in 2024. Nam stressed that the MMPA regulations and NOAA's preliminary findings pose a serious threat to both exports and the industry's reputation.

In response, VASEP has urged the Vietnamese authorities to negotiate an extension of the compliance deadline to give companies and fishermen more time to adjust harvesting practices and strengthen monitoring.

Vietnamese regulators and NOAA also need to cooperate to enhance marine mammal protection and improve monitoring systems. VASEP called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to formally request an extension beyond the current deadline of April 1, 2025 through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in the US.

Urgent actions to secure market access

At a March 19 meeting on fisheries and marine surveillance for Q2/2025, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien reported promising growth in Vietnam's seafood exports in the first three months of the year.

He emphasized that the US remains a key market and called for urgent action to address challenges related to the MMPA.

Regarding the fish farming sector, Tien noted that Vietnam's production has reached 832,000 tons, with an export value of $800 million. He urged large enterprises to invest in sustainable aquaculture models which are critical to meet the high quality and traceability standards of the US market.

Tien emphasized the need to finalize legal frameworks, technical regulations, and industry standards, particularly for marine aquaculture while stressing the importance of a streamlined administrative structure with clearly defined responsibilities.

For seafood harvesting, he acknowledged the challenge of balancing sustainability with increasing production. Vietnam now has more than 83,000 fishing vessels in operation. Therefore, ensuring maritime safety and developing a rational harvesting strategy remain top priorities.

Tien called for a thorough review of the distribution of vessels in coastal, inshore, and offshore fishing zones to promote sustainable and regulated practices.

On marine conservation, he highlighted the role of conservation efforts, saying it is essential to maintaining stable fish stocks and securing the future of the industry.

Industry experts agreed that compliance with the MMPA is critical to maintaining US market access and an opportunity for Vietnam to improve seafood quality and transition to more sustainable practices.