Shrimp and pangasius output peaks, diversification needed

At a recent Q1 review meeting hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized the need to diversify aquaculture species beyond shrimp and pangasius to sustain long-term growth in the sector.

Sudden harvesting surge raises concerns

According to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Inspection, Vietnam’s total seafood output in the first three months of 2025 reached nearly 2 million tons, marking a 2.8% increase year-over-year. Within this figure, harvested seafood accounted for nearly 880,000 tons (up 0.1%), and farmed seafood exceeded 1.1 million tons (up 5.1%). Export revenue hit USD 2.29 billion, up 18.1% from the same period in 2024.

Department Director Tran Dinh Luan noted that achieving the 2025 growth target of 4.35% remains highly challenging. However, the impressive performance of shrimp and pangasius in Q1, particularly shrimp, with over 37.8% growth, has provided a strong foundation for optimism across the industry.

The Department of Fisheries has actively advised the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, helping to guide sector-wide decision-making. Nonetheless, after the U.S. announced its retaliatory tariff against Vietnam, which affects around 18–20% of seafood exports, certain localities witnessed a wave of panic harvesting.

To counteract this, the Department swiftly issued advisories urging coastal and Mekong Delta provinces to remain calm. Farmers and businesses were advised against prematurely harvesting or scaling back production, as such actions risk disrupting supply chains and derailing national growth targets amid ongoing U.S.-Vietnam trade negotiations.

Director Luan stressed that maintaining a stable supply of raw materials is vital, given the long production cycles in aquaculture. Pangasius takes 7–8 months to raise, and even shrimp, the fastest-growing species, requires at least three months to reach harvest size. As such, strategic oversight and timely guidance are essential.

New momentum for shrimp and pangasius

To sustain momentum, the sector plans to diversify its farmed species portfolio. According to Luan, tilapia is one such alternative that could enhance market competitiveness.

The Department will also work with the Legal Department of the Ministry to refine regulatory frameworks and review existing directives, decrees, standards, and codes.

Meanwhile, the Fisheries Resource Protection and Exploitation Plan (2021–2030, vision to 2050) identifies numerous nursery and spawning grounds that must now be closed to fishing. A report will be submitted to the Ministry next week recommending that local governments strictly enforce these closures.

Efforts will be stepped up to shift fishing practices from uncontrolled harvesting to structured and sustainable operations. Monitoring will be increased at the local level to ensure compliance.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien reiterated that achieving the 4.35% growth target will require decisive actions. On IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, he called for maximum effort to have Vietnam’s “yellow card” lifted this year. Authorities must submit monthly updates in line with Directive No. 32-CT/TW (dated April 10, 2024) on strengthening Party leadership in combating IUU and advancing sustainable fisheries.

Source: https://vietfishmagazine.com/