US bans import of seafood from 12 Vietnamese fisheries from January 1

Le Tran Nguyen Hung, deputy head of the Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, recently confirmed the information, citing NOAA’s notification issued in August 2025.

Under the decision, NOAA approved comparability findings for 11 Vietnamese fisheries but denied approval for 12 others, saying Vietnam has not yet demonstrated regulatory programs comparable in effectiveness to the U.S. system in addressing marine mammal bycatch.

A comparability finding is NOAA’s determination that ‘a foreign export or exempt fishery meets applicable conditions to ensure the safety of marine mammals during commercial fishing,’ as required by the MMPA.

Although Vietnam has made progress in modernizing fisheries management, NOAA said significant gaps remain in monitoring, reporting, and mitigating interactions with marine mammals across the affected fisheries.

As a result, exports from the 12 denied fisheries are banned from entering the U.S. starting January 1, 2026.

The restriction affects several major Vietnamese seafood exports, including tuna, swordfish, groupers, mackerel, mullet, crabs, squid, and other species.

“In response, we advise businesses to strengthen exports to existing markets and promptly explore new ones to reduce pressure from the U.S. ban,” Hung said.

He added that the Directorate of Fisheries has published a detailed list of fishery products linked to the denied fisheries on its website and shared the information with relevant authorities and businesses.

Meanwhile, exports from the 11 approved fisheries may still require a Certificate of Admissibility (COA) issued by Vietnam to confirm compliance with U.S. market requirements, as required by the NOAA, Hung said.

Under Circular 74, issued on December 26, 2025 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, COAs are issued by local fishery management authorities in provinces and cities.

Following the issuance of the circular, the directorate held an online conference with local fishery authorities and businesses to provide guidance, including contact details to address certificate-related issues.

A coordination group has also been set up between the directorate and local offices to support implementation in line with U.S. export requirements.

Le Huu Tuan Anh, deputy head of the Fisheries Resource Protection and Development Division under the Directorate of Fisheries, noted that not all seafood products exported to the U.S. require a COA.

Businesses should consult U.S. Harmonized Tariff System codes to determine which items require certification, he advised.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the ban on exports from the denied fisheries could result in economic losses of about US$500 million per year for Vietnam’s fisheries sector.

This figure is roughly equal to the total export value of the affected products shipped to the U.S. in 2024, which stood at $511.5 million.