Vietnam’s seafood industry is under mounting pressure as the United States enforces stricter regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which could lead to an import ban on key fishing products by 2026 if Vietnam does not meet US standards, Zing News is reporting.

Zing News goes on to note that:

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a preliminary ruling that Vietnam’s marine mammal protection measures are not comparable to US standards for 12 fishing methods, including gillnets, trawls, and purse seines.
Seafood species at risk of being banned from US import include tuna, swordfish, squid, grouper, mackerel, snapper, and crab.
NOAA has asked Vietnam to provide evidence of improved management and conservation efforts by April 1, with a final decision due by November 30.
If standards are not met, a ban on affected seafood imports to the US will take effect from January 1, 2026.
The US is also expanding the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), increasing documentation requirements and compliance costs for exporters.

The US is one of Vietnam’s largest seafood export markets, and failure to meet MMPA standards could jeopardise a significant share of export revenue, potentially harming Vietnam’s reputation globally. Officials are urging urgent action to align with US requirements, while also promoting product diversification and stricter fleet management to reduce pressure on aquatic resources. This moment presents both a challenge and an opportunity: adapt to sustainability standards or risk losing ground in a key export market.