Resolutely removing IUU "yellow card"

The fifth inspection by the European Commission (EC), expected this October, is seen as a “golden opportunity” for Viet Nam to demonstrate its strong commitment to strict implementation of anti-IUU fishing measures.

Relentless efforts

After nearly eight years of implementing anti-IUU measures, the Government, ministries, and coastal localities have carried out determined and coordinated actions, yielding positive results.

According to Tran Dinh Luan, Head of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), Viet Nam has completed its legal framework, developing comprehensive documents that meet practical needs and align with EC recommendations. To date, more than 82,000 fishing vessels have been registered and updated on the national fisheries database (VNFishbase) for monitoring and inspection.

In the first five months of this year, only 154 vessels were recorded violating regulations on vessel monitoring system (VMS) disconnection exceeding six hours without position reporting, marking a decrease of 82% compared to the same period in 2024; VMS disconnections over ten days dropped to 19 vessels (down 71%). Preventing illegal fishing in foreign waters — one of the key conditions for the EC to lift the “yellow card” warning — has also seen progress. Since the start of the year, only 11 violating vessels have been recorded, a year-on-year reduction of over 76%.

Leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment stated that these results prove that tightening controls and strengthening administrative sanctions are effective tools to address EC recommendations and move closer to the goal of removing the IUU “yellow card”. Viet Nam has fundamentally addressed the EC’s recommendations, with localities essentially resolving the issue of “three-no” vessels (unregistered, uninspected, and unlicensed).

To meet the digitalisation needs of anti-IUU work, in June 2025 the Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance Department piloted an electronic logbook system for fishing, purchasing, and transshipment on vessels. This system not only modernises management activities but also enhances transparency, supports fishers and authorities in traceability, and meets international standards.

The collective determination to remove the IUU “yellow card” has become the resolve of many localities. In Hai Phong, this task has been implemented comprehensively. Hai Phong no longer has “three-no” vessels; all fishing boats are registered, marked, and updated in VNFishbase, and VMS data is linked to the VNeID national ID system. The rate of inspected vessels is over 98%, and valid fishing licenses exceed 90%, both above the national average.

Quang Ninh is also promoting technology application in vessel monitoring, using flycams and the VMS system, aiming to ensure all active vessels are connected, docked, and unloaded in compliance with regulations, thereby improving transparency and traceability.

Across four previous EC inspections, the delegation has consistently acknowledged and highly appreciated Viet Nam’s anti-IUU efforts, particularly the political will and the attention and direction from the Government and the Prime Minister. The coming period is seen as critical for the fisheries sector to achieve the goal of lifting the IUU “yellow card”.

Decisive moment

Quang Ngai, home to a large fishing fleet with over 3,000 vessels at least 15m in length, has essentially completed VMS installation on active vessels, reaching a rate of over 97%.

Ta Ngoc Thi, Deputy Head of the Provincial Fisheries and Islands Sub-Department, stated that for vessels already registered but with expired inspections, unlicensed, or without VMS installation, the sub-department sends weekly lists to local authorities to assign forces for monitoring anchorage locations and ensuring non-compliant vessels do not depart illegally.

The EC’s inspection visit to Viet Nam is expected to take place in October 2025. From now until then is the decisive time for the fisheries sector and relevant agencies to fully address the EC’s recommendations and meet the goal of lifting the “yellow card” within this year.

Tran Dinh Luan stressed the need to focus on raising fisher awareness of legal compliance while strictly and thoroughly handling VMS disconnection violations; decisively preventing and addressing illegal incursions into foreign waters; and ensuring no new incidents arise.

For example, the February 24 incident involving fishing vessel KG-95441-TS from Kien Giang (now An Giang) being seized by Thai law enforcement following a collision with Thai vessels and authorities was a contributing factor in the EC’s decision to postpone its fifth inspection in Viet Nam from the original schedule of March 2025 to October.

To prepare for the upcoming EC inspection, the Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance Department is focusing resources on key tasks such as finalising vessel identification on VNeID, synchronising data with VNFishbase and VMS, fully updating vessel owner information, and tightening vessel transfer management.

Vessels that are no longer eligible for operation will be decommissioned, with supportive policies for fisher livelihood transition. Fisheries surveillance forces are stepping up patrols, particularly in sensitive sea areas, creating watch lists and closely monitoring vessels at high risk of IUU fishing.

At the national online conference on urgent IUU countermeasures held on June 19, Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, called on localities and authorities to continue focusing resources, effectively implementing key measures, and decisively curbing illegal fishing in foreign waters.

“It is essential to recognise that combating IUU fishing is not only about lifting the EC’s yellow card but also about protecting sustainable marine resources and ensuring livelihoods for Vietnamese fishermen,” Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasised.

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