On the afternoon of April 13, during a regular briefing session, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duyoutlined key tasks for the second quarter of 2025, emphasizing the strategic goal of removing the IUU “Yellow Card” by Q4 this year.
This mission is considered crucial for the fisheries sector, especially as exports are recovering strongly yet still facing geopolitical and trade-related challenges.
Positive Performance in Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector
According to the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, Vietnam’s total seafood output in Q1 2025reached nearly 2 million tons, up 2.8% year-on-year.
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Capture fisheries: approximately 880,000 tons (+0.1%)
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Aquaculture production: more than 1.1 million tons (+5.1%)
Seafood export turnover reached USD 2.29 billion, marking an 18.1% increase compared to Q1 2024.
Director-General Tran Dinh Luan noted that the annual growth target of 4.35% remains a major challenge amid global market volatility. However, shrimp and pangasius—Vietnam’s two key seafood products—are showing positive momentum, with shrimp exports surging over 37.8% in the first quarter, providing an optimistic outlook for the year.
Challenges: Market Fluctuations and Policy Impacts
The recent U.S. announcement of new countervailing duties on Vietnamese seafood has caused temporary disruptionsin several provinces.
Following the news, some coastal regions saw mass harvesting of shrimp and fish, posing risks to production planningand supply stability.
In response, the Directorate of Fisheries issued official guidance urging coastal and Mekong Delta provinces to stay calm and avoid halting production or delaying stocking schedules.
Premature harvesting could lead to raw material shortages for processing, disrupting the supply chain and threatening export growth targets.
“Seafood cannot be produced instantly. Even the shortest shrimp farming cycle takes at least three months, and many species require 7–8 months,” Mr. Luan emphasized.
He added that ensuring stable input materials is essential, requiring real-time coordination and timely policy responses from the Ministry to help enterprises maintain production and exports.
Policy Direction: Sustainable Marine Farming and IUU Control
According to Mr. Dang Ngoc Diep, Director of the Department of Planning and Finance, the Ministry will direct provinces to:
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Focus on sustainable marine aquaculture with higher commercial value.
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Strictly monitor and prevent IUU fishing activities, particularly those involving Vietnamese fishing vessels violating foreign waters.
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien reaffirmed that achieving the 4.35% growth target requires decisive actions against IUU fishing, calling it a top priority for 2025.
He stressed the importance of updating and reporting full compliance data in line with Directive No. 32-CT/TW (April 10, 2024) issued by the Party Secretariat, which calls for stronger Party leadership in combating IUU fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries development.