Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has set a firm deadline: by November 15, 2025, the country must put an end to all illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. Heads of ministries, sectors, and localities will be held accountable if they fail to fulfil their assigned duties.
After nearly eight years of persistent action, from policy reform to practical enforcement, Vietnam has demonstrated its political determination and unified efforts across the entire political system to remove the European Commission’s (EC) “yellow card” warning imposed on its seafood exports.
At the recent 15th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing, the PM reiterated his stance to “declare war” on IUU fishing practices. He stressed that those failing to meet their responsibilities would be subject to disciplinary measures in line with the Party’s regulations and the State’s laws. This not only reflects Vietnam’s commitment to its international partners but also serves as a clear message to the European Union (EU) that the country seeks fair, sustainable cooperation for mutual benefit.
Transforming the fisheries sector towards sustainability
The EC issued the “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood exports on October 23, 2017, citing the country’s violations of IUU regulations. The warning became a turning point, prompting Vietnam to overhaul its fisheries management system to ensure transparency, responsibility, and sustainability.
Following four inspections of the EC, Vietnam’s progress in addressing IUU fishing has been acknowledged as showing “significant improvements.” The country has turned external pressure into momentum for restructuring the industry - balancing long-term livelihood protection with the requirements of international integration and national reputation.
Major legal reforms have been introduced to promote responsible and sustainable fisheries. The revised Law on Fisheries, adopted in 2017, created a comprehensive framework to transform small-scale fishing into a regulated and sustainable industry. The Government has since strengthened administrative penalties and improved oversight mechanisms, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has enhanced vessel registration, inspection, and monitoring to ensure stricter fleet management.
The Party and the State have strengthened their leadership through a series of directives and policies aimed at enhancing the fight against IUU fishing and promoting the sustainable development of the fisheries sector. The Government and relevant agencies have also issued action programmes and legal guidelines to ensure strict enforcement for violations related to illegal fishing and seafood trading.
These directives have prompted ministries and local authorities into coordinated action by enhancing monitoring through digital technology, strengthening law enforcement, increasing public awareness, and promoting aquaculture as an alternative to offshore fishing.
Strengthening management and accountability
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, as of June 30, 2025, a total of 81,719 fishing vessels nationwide have been registered and updated in the VNFishbase national database, demonstrating transparency and improved management in line with international standards.
At a recent meeting with Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam Ambassador Julien Guerrier, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to ending IUU fishing, acknowledging the complexity of the issue across 21 coastal provinces. He called on the EU to recognise Vietnam’s progress and support the goal of lifting the “yellow card” by late 2025.
Thang underlined that cooperation between Vietnam and the EU has yielded significant results, particularly in agriculture and environmental protection. He expressed Vietnam’s desire to maintain open dialogue, address existing challenges, and share best practices to further elevate the partnership.
At the 15th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing held on September 30, PM Chinh commended the committee’s members, ministries, and local authorities for their proactive efforts in implementing the government’s directives to curb IUU fishing.
Thanks to these coordinated actions, recent violations have been brought under tighter control. Vessel management and seafood traceability systems have been strengthened, while law enforcement in the fisheries sector has shown improvement.
However, the Government leader also frankly pointed out that progress remains uneven, with several fundamental issues yet to be fully resolved. Gaps persist in enforcing regulations on vessel tracking, handling disconnections, and violations of foreign maritime boundaries.
The PM assigned specific responsibilities to ministries, agencies, and localities, directing the police and local authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of all fishing vessels and maintain strict oversight of their operations. Any unlicensed vessels must be prohibited from going to sea, and licences of violators revoked, with implementation completed by October 5.
He called for stronger public communication to raise awareness and promote compliance, while inspection teams were instructed to tighten supervision and ensure accountability.
These comprehensive measures and decisive directives underline Vietnam’s unwavering resolve to lift the EU’s “yellow card,” reaffirming its commitment to sustainable fisheries management and to protecting the image, reputation, and honour of the Vietnamese nation./.
