NOAA Grants Swimming Crab Import Access to Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka After Court-Ordered Review

NOAA Fisheries has granted comparability findings to swimming crab fisheries in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, allowing continued US imports from these countries while maintaining import restrictions on Philippines fisheries following a court-ordered reconsideration process.

The agency announced May 11 that it granted comparability findings to swimming crab fisheries in the three Asian nations after reviewing additional information submitted as part of the legal proceedings with the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and other industry groups that challenged...

Russia Eyes Busan as Distribution Hub for Southeast Asian Fish Exports

Russia plans to use the South Korean port of Busan as a hub for distributing Russian fish products to Southeast Asia as well as supplying fish directly to the South Korean market.

These plans were recently confirmed by German Zverev, president of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Producers (VARPE).

According to Zverev, Russian fish exports to South Korea increased 5% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching US$1 billion. However, South Korean customs statistics show that not all products remain in the country...

Vietnamese Pangasius Producer Unveils Value-Added Innovations at Seafood Expo Global

Vietnam's Vinh Hoan Corporation will unveil two new value-added pangasius products at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain, April 21-23.

The company plans to showcase its Pink Banh Mi and Cured Panga Croquette innovations at the trade show, highlighting continued investment in research and development and responsible aquaculture practices.

"These new products showcase the company's continued investment in R&D, responsible aquaculture and its commitment to meeting the demands of the seafood marketplace," Vinh Hoan said.

Founded in 1997...

Spain’s Congalsa Secures Vietnam Processing Base with Lenger Seafoods Acquisition

Spanish seafood industry leader Congalsa has officially completed the acquisition of Lenger Seafoods Vietnam Ltd., a seafood processing company based in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. This significant move marks a decisive step in Congalsa’s strategy to deepen its footprint in the Asian market, one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for seafood consumption.

The acquisition provides Congalsa with enhanced access to critical raw materials and strengthens its industrial operations in Asia, complementing its established global seafood supply chain. By securing Lenger Seafoods, Congalsa gains a strategic production base in Vietnam...

US Department of Commerce Issues Final Antidumping Duty Results for Thai and Vietnamese Shrimp

In recent days, the US Department of Commerce (Commerce) released the final results of its 19th administrative reviews of antidumping duty orders on frozen warmwater shrimp imported from Thailand and Vietnam. The review period covered imports from February 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024, according to Federal Register notices issued on February 20 and 23.

These dumping margins determine the final antidumping duties owed on shipments during the period of review and establish cash deposit rates that will apply to...

US Department of Commerce Sets Preliminary AD Rates for Vietnamese Frozen Fish Fillet Exporters

The US Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily found that two major Vietnamese pangasius exporters, Bien Dong Seafood Co., Ltd. and NTSF Seafoods Joint Stock Company, sold product at less than normal value during the August 1, 2023, - July 31, 2024 review period.

In total, Commerce found four companies were eligible for a separate antidumping rate in its preliminary review published in the Federal Register on February 11. It also rescinded the review for 16 firms with no shipments, and preliminarily rescinded for 24 others and the...

US Court of International Trade Ruling Preserves Countervailing Duties on Vietnamese Shrimp

The US Court of International Trade (CIT) has upheld the Department of Commerce’s final determination imposing countervailing duties on Vietnamese shrimp. The January 8 decision keeps countervailing duty (CVD) rates at 2.84% for most Vietnamese exporters and 221.82% for one company, with importers required to continue depositing those duties alongside current antidumping tariffs.

The court rejected Soc Trang Seafood (STAPIMEX)’s challenge to Commerce’s subsidy finding and methodology, declining to overturn the agency’s judgment. The decision was successfully defended by...

FDA Finds 36% of Frozen Seafood Samples Short-Weighted; All Violations Detained at US Border

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled results from a sampling assignment focused on testing imported frozen seafood products for short weighting.

The FDA said short weighting can occur in frozen seafood products when the net weight includes the weight of the added water glaze or ice. The addition of water glaze or ice is a common practice to help protect from freezer burn during storage.

However, overstating the net weight of frozen seafood by including the weight of glazing (ice) is not permitted...

Commerce Initiates Administrative Reviews for Shrimp AD/CVD Orders Covering Thousands of Importers

The Commerce Department has initiated administrative reviews of antidumping and countervailing duty orders on frozen warm-water shrimp from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, affecting thousands of importers.

The March 31 Federal Register notice covers the period from February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026, and includes extensive lists of importers and exporters subject to review across all four countries. The administrative reviews will assess whether current duty deposit rates remain appropriate given recent import activity and pricing data...

Lawsuit Targets Aqua Star Over Shrimp Sourcing Claims

Corporate Accountability Lab (CAL) and GMO/Toxin Free USA have filed a consumer protection complaint against Aqua Star, alleging its Seafood Forever™ branding falsely promotes its shrimp as responsibly sourced.

The complaint points to third-party reports linking Aqua Star’s suppliers in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam to systemic issues including labor abuses, environmental damage, and contaminated shrimp products. A 2024 CAL investigation, Hidden Harvest: Human Rights and Environmental Abuses in India’s Shrimp Industry, documented widespread exploitation—particularly involving female workers at supplier Nekkanti Sea Foods...

Vietnam Tops China's Lobster Imports as Tariffs Shift Market Share

Vietnam has seen strong growth in lobster exports to China, with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) attributing the surge to increased demand from higher-income shoppers.

According to a February 21 VASEP update, China’s lobster imports reached 69,774 metric tons (MT) in 2025, up nearly 9,000 MT from the previous year and marking the highest volume in five years, based on Chinese Customs data.

This growth propelled Vietnam to become China’s top lobster supplier, surpassing Canada, which faced a 25% tariff that contributed to a 15%...

Russia Targets Growth in Shrimp Imports and Production

Russia plans to significantly increase shrimp production and imports in the coming years as local demand remains strong.

According to the Fish Union, Russia increased shrimp imports by at least 2% in volume last year, while the value of imports rose by 20%.

India, Vietnam, and China are among the largest shrimp exporters to Russia, with India being the top supplier, providing 19,000 tonnes in 2025.

Russia imports shrimp species not produced locally due to climatic conditions, including farmed Vannamei shrimp, farmed tiger shrimp, wild Argentine shrimp, and more than 25 other...

FDA Announces Nationwide Recall of Prime Food's Dried Croaker Fish

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary recall from Prime Food Processing for its Dried Croaker Fish product.

The items were not adequately eviscerated prior to packing, as required by the FDA and poses a significant health risk as fish which aren't properly eviscerated may retain internal organs that can harbor harmful bacteria or toxins.

The issue was determined during routine testing by the New York Department of Agriculture. A subsequent investigation determined that the problem originated from an...

VARPE, VASEP Pact Aims to Expand Russian Seafood Exports to Vietnam 

Russia and Vietnam have agreed to significantly expand joint fish trade under a memorandum signed by the Russian fish association VARPE and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) during an international forum in St. Petersburg.

The memorandum commits both sides to expand trade volumes, simplify cross-border procedures, and develop scientific cooperation in the fisheries sector. For Russia, the agreement opens greater access for Russian fishermen and processors to Vietnam’s large and growing seafood market.

Herman Zverev, head of VARPE, said Vietnam...

The Winding Glass: $1 Billion Tariff Hit to Shrimp Industry Will Lead to Downturn in 12 Months

The US has finalized, for now, tariff rates on the major shrimp-importing countries, and the industry is preparing for a period of significantly higher costs. 

In this column, we look back at other periods when shrimp prices rapidly rose 20% or more to predict what the longer-term impact will be on our industry and customers. 

Things don’t look good.  

We calculated tariff impacts by using full year 2024 values for the major types of shrimp imports, shell-on...