Vietnam mixed species - trawl

The Roundtable of Feed and Fishmeal companies has been initiated by end of 2016 by feed manufacturers and their suppliers to address the most concern of the feed sector regarding responsible sourcing of marine ingredients. In 2017, with support from Ba Ria-Vung Tau provincial People's Committee, Department of Agriculture & Rural Development and its affiliate - Sub-Department of Fisheries, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Fishmeal and Fish Oil Association has been recognised by authorities, a fishery improvement project (hereby called FIP Vung Tau) has been developed since then. In June 2020, FIP Vung Tau registered on FisheryProgress as Prospective FIP for trawl fisheries in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, with 10 participants (4 feed companies and 6 fishmeal companies in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province). FIP Vung Tau has defined 5 'other species' as target stocks, including Greater lizardfish (Saurida tumbil); Blunt-nose lizardfish (Trachinocephalus myops); Sulphur goatfish (Upeneus sulphureus); Bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus); and Yellowtail scad (Atule mate). Trawl fleets registered with Ba Ria - Vung Tau authorities and ones that land in ports in Ba Ria - Vung Tau that fishmeal producers are sourcing their incoming materials are covered by this FIP. Background studies and data collection for evaluation of PIs will be conducted in the waters under administration of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.  

Update April 16, 2025

On March 24, 2025, FIP partners convened in Ho Chi Minh City and agreed to expand the scope of the Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) to include more seafood processing partners from across southern Vietnam, rather than limiting participation to Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. This broader designation aims to encourage wider industry involvement and foster a more inclusive financial contribution to support the FIP’s efforts.

Over the past three years of implementation, it has become increasingly clear that the Vietnamese government plays a critical role in the development and enforcement of policies essential to the sustainability of fisheries. While the private sector remains fully committed to implementing responsible practices, it is government leadership that creates the enabling environment and ensures consistent compliance.

We strongly believe that a robust public-private partnership—anchored in internationally recognized standards such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and MarinTrust—can deliver long-term benefits. The private sector will gain from a supportive regulatory framework, while the government can leverage private sector resources to implement and scale sustainable practices effectively.

To this end, we plan to pilot a trawl fishery aligned with the principles of the MSC Fisheries Standard. This initiative is expected to contribute meaningfully to the government’s long-term ecological and economic goals, with positive impacts extending beyond the trawl sector to other important fisheries.