To have the “yellow card” that the European Commission (EC) has imposed on Vietnamese seafood regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing lifted has been considered an urgent task of the fishery sector. This is not only the matter of strictly implementing the 2017 Fisheries Law but also protecting coastal security and safety of marine ecosystem. Over the past seven years since being imposed the warning, Vietnam has been working hard to step by step fulfil the European Union's standards and hopefully have the "yellow card" removed in the upcoming examination.
A raft of measures to deal with illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is included in the Government’s freshly issued action programme as the country is striving to clamp down on illegal fishing, or else it will be hit by the European Commission (EC)’s warning card.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a conference in Hanoi on April 11 to popularise new contents in regulations on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing prevention and combat prescribed in newly-issued legal documents.
Vietnam boasts many advantages to develop marine aquaculture and tourism as a way to boost the industry and create more revenue from holidaymakers. However, this industry has not developed on par with potential as up to 99% of the aquatic farms are small businesses that are owned by households.
Border guards in the central coastal province of Nghe An have strengthened patrols and tightened control over fishing activities at sea as part of efforts to prevent fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, contributing to persuading the European Commission to remove the “yellow card” against Vietnamese seafood.
No cases of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing have been recorded by Tien Giang province’s fishing vessels since the beginning of 2022, thanks to the Mekong Delta locality’s efforts to step up communications work to raise fishermen’s awareness, according to the provincial Department of Fisheries.
The Coast Guard High Command held a conference in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on June 14 to seek measures to enhance the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and criminals at sea.
Preventing and ending vessels’ illegal fishing overseas is the first requirement to lift “yellow card” warning by the European Commission, said Deputy General Director of the Directorate of Fisheries Nguyen Quang Hung.
ASEAN Today, a website based in Singapore, on October 26 ran an article entitled “Vietnam launded for efforts to combat illegal fishing”, hailing the country’s efforts in this sphere.
The European Commission’s (EC) inspection delegation has acknowledged recent improvements made by Vietnam in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).
After Vietnam received a “yellow card” from the European Commission because of its failure to meet standards against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, stakeholders are preparing a national action plan to prevent, minimise and eliminate IUU fishing by 2025.
