Vietnam is intensifying its efforts to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, aiming to have the European Commission’s (EC) ‘yellow card’ lifted in the coming months.
Following a fourth EC inspection in October 2023, the Vietnamese government says it has taken swift action to strengthen oversight and regulatory measures.
In April 2024, the government issued a directive to boost leadership in combatting IUU fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries development.
Key measures include addressing shortcomings in fishing vessel management and enforcing stricter penalties for illegal fishing practices, including vessel monitoring system (VMS) disconnections and illegal fishing in foreign waters.
The country has also amended regulations, introducing revised decrees on seafood imports from container vessels and implementing enforcement in the fisheries sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has taken further action to address unregistered or non-compliant vessels, and the Supreme People’s Court issued a resolution in June 2024, guiding criminal penalties for those enabling illegal fishing activities.
The government has also documented its fishing fleet, totalling 84,752 vessels, with 98.62% of larger vessels having VMS installed. Additionally, Vietnam has introduced an electronic traceability system for domestic and imported seafood to ensure transparency.
Authorities have also made significant progress in law enforcement, prosecuting 12 criminal cases and penalising over 4,200 administrative violations, leading to fines exceeding VND109 billion (US$4.3 million).
