U.S. authorities have officially recognized Vietnam’s crab fishery as meeting marine mammal protection standards, while simultaneously imposing an import ban on a direct competitor, the Philippines. This decision allows Vietnamese crab products to continue entering the U.S. market without complex certification procedures until the end of 2029.

U.S. recognizes Vietnamese standards

On May 12, 2026, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance officially announced that Vietnam’s crab fishery had been recognized by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as equivalent under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

According to the results published on May 11, 2026, four Vietnamese crab fishing categories were recognized, including blue crab harvested through gillnet and trap fisheries, as well as red crab harvested through gillnet and trap fisheries. The U.S. recognition of Vietnam’s crab industry marks an important milestone following a rigorous standards review process.

Looking back at the previous context, in August 2025, the NMFS assessed approximately 2,500 fishing grounds across 135 countries and concluded that up to 240 fishing grounds failed to fully comply with MMPA standards. At that time, crab fisheries from Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines were all classified as non-compliant.

Also in August 2025, NOAA announced the rejection of recognition for 12 Vietnamese seafood fishing categories, raising major concerns for the processing industry, as the U.S. National Fisheries Institute (NFI) estimated that approximately 89% of crab imports into the United States were at risk of being reduced.

Facing this situation, a group of seafood enterprises, together with the NFI and the Restaurant Law Center, filed a lawsuit against the NMFS, arguing that the rejection decisions were primarily based on administrative regulatory differences rather than actual impacts on marine mammals. The case was resolved in November 2025 when the NMFS agreed to review its conclusions. Following this comprehensive reassessment, the official recognition of Vietnam’s crab industry was announced, affirming the quality and compliance of Vietnam’s seafood fishing sector with international regulations.

Advantages for enterprises

Passing this review provides a clear commercial advantage. Specifically, Vietnamese crab and crab-based processed products will be allowed direct import into the U.S. market without requiring a Certificate of Admissibility (COA) until December 31, 2029, or until further notice from regulatory authorities.

The U.S. market plays a vital role for this industry segment. Vietnam currently has nearly 100 enterprises exporting crab products, with the U.S. market alone accounting for up to 81% of total export turnover. According to NOAA data, Vietnam exported 4,143 tons of blue crab to the United States in 2025. Although this volume ranked behind Indonesia’s 14,290 tons, it significantly exceeded Sri Lanka’s 820 tons and the Philippines’ 2,417 tons.

Notably, in the revised review announcement published in the Federal Register, while Indonesia and Sri Lanka continue to be permitted to export to the United States, neighboring Philippines was not recognized for two crab fishing categories.

The NMFS stated that the Philippines had not established a comprehensive system to monitor incidental capture of marine mammals and had failed to demonstrate the effectiveness of mitigation measures, particularly concerning the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin.

The import ban on crab harvested through Philippine gillnet and trap fisheries will officially take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, around mid-June 2026. The exclusion of a direct competitor presents a major opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to expand crab exports to the United States and increase market share. U.S. recognition of Vietnam’s crab industry creates a significant competitive advantage for domestic enterprises in the international trade landscape.

Controlling raw material sources

Despite holding a major advantage, seafood trade activities must still strictly comply with supply chain traceability requirements. NOAA has issued clear regulations stating that, because the import ban on the Philippines will take effect from June 11, 2026, any Vietnamese crab products using imported raw materials from the Philippines will also be prohibited from export to the United States.

Exports of Vietnamese crab products using Philippine-origin raw materials will only be accepted if those raw material shipments were issued a valid COA certificate by the Philippines.

This requires Vietnamese crab processing plants to strengthen vigilance and thoroughly review contracts for imported raw materials to avoid situations where goods are detained or returned due to origin issues involving non-equivalent countries.

At the same time, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance has issued recommendations to local authorities, the business community, and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). U.S. recognition of Vietnam’s crab industry does not mean the sector can relax ecological standards.

The seafood industry must continue strictly implementing marine mammal protection regulations, applying monitoring measures for incidental catch, and maintaining initiatives to improve professional crab fishing practices. This is considered a crucial foundation for sustainable trade development, protection of marine resources, and readiness to meet future assessment requirements from U.S. regulatory authorities.

Source: Tap chi Thuy san Viet Nam