Eight years after the EC (European Fee) issued its “yellow card” warning over Unlawful, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, Vietnam’s whole political system is executing complete measures with unprecedented resolve. The marketing campaign to take away the IUU yellow card transcends mere business calculations; it has develop into inextricably linked to nationwide status, the livelihoods of fishing communities, and the sustainable way forward for the fisheries sector.
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2026 – Combating IUU fishing represents a vital and pressing nationwide mission with enduring implications for sustainable fisheries improvement. This mission constitutes a collective mandate that rests with all the political system and society, presenting a pivotal alternative to restructure, modernise, and rework the fisheries sector’s sustainable improvement technique whereas making certain social fairness.
Eradicating the EC’s yellow card warning embodies Vietnam’s honour, duty, and nationwide curiosity, important components for enhancing the repute and world competitiveness of Vietnamese seafood merchandise. Concurrently, combating IUU fishing and growing a accountable, internationally built-in fisheries sector stands as a cornerstone of the blue financial system agenda, rating among the many Vietnamese Authorities’s highest priorities lately.
Institutional Reform in Fisheries Administration
Vietnam’s dedication manifests via sweeping legislative reforms. Decree 26/2019 established complete traceability necessities, mandating that each kilogram of seafood should carry verifiable proof of authorized origin from the second of harvest till reaching worldwide consumers.
Subsequent decrees (No. 42/2019, 37/2024, 38/2024, 301/2025) have progressively clarified legal responsibility, extending sanctions to each vessel homeowners and captains, considerably growing penalties for particular violations, and introducing supplementary sanctions and remedial measures to make sure rigorous enforcement. These enhanced penalties strengthen deterrence capabilities towards IUU violations.
The amended Fisheries Legislation 2017, efficient January 1, 2026, incorporates essential provisions together with: (i) transferring sure authorities from the Nationwide Meeting to the Authorities/Ministries to make sure responsive IUU enforcement; (ii) delegating authority to ascertain fishing allow situations to the Authorities (Article 50, Clause 2); (iii) increasing regulatory authority over vessel deregistration instances (Article 50, Clause 5); (iv) transferring authority to ascertain fishing port standards and the procedures for opening and shutting fishing ports to the Minister of Agriculture and Setting (Article 78); and (v) incorporating necessities for export vessels to fulfill Authorities-prescribed situations (Article 66).
Built-in Know-how for Vessel Administration and Monitoring
Central to implementing the EC inspection group’s fourth-round suggestions is the deployment of a complete fishing vessel administration and monitoring system. Bolstered by the Politburo’s Decision 57 on scientific-technological breakthroughs, innovation, and nationwide digital transformation, know-how has develop into indispensable to the yellow card removing marketing campaign.
The eCDT system now permits end-to-end knowledge digitisation for monitoring vessel port entries and departures, whereas the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) tracks all vessels exceeding 15 meters working offshore.
Fishing vessels could solely register for native operations when allotted fishing allow quotas stay out there. Registered vessels are comprehensively catalogued within the nationwide fisheries database (VNFishbase), with possession data verified towards the nationwide inhabitants database (VNeID), enabling efficient administration, operational management, and administrative violation processing whereas making certain seamless coordination between central and native authorities.
Establishing Traceability Mechanisms for Home and Imported Fisheries Merchandise
As of December 31, 2025, Vietnam has declared 86 operational fishing ports, with continued funding in deliberate ports to boost vessel monitoring capability. The nationally deployed eCDT system now manages full fishing vessel operations whereas making certain clear traceability of harvested aquatic merchandise. System participation amongst vessels, fishermen, and enterprises continues rising, with necessary eCDT and digital logbook implementation scheduled for all operational fishing vessels.
In 2025, the eCDT system recorded 158,885 port departures (a rise of 81,158 vessels, up 104.41% from 2024) and 154,657 port arrivals (up 88,032 vessels, a 132.13% enhance from 2024). Certification and affirmation of harvested aquatic product origins now strictly adhere to authorized necessities.
Relating to imported harvest traceability: 14 designated seaports have been introduced for overseas vessel arrivals, absolutely implementing PSMA, compliant management measures for imported harvested aquatic supplies and container-shipped merchandise. Home and imported harvest traceability mechanisms now function with rigorous oversight, making certain full compliance with Vietnamese and worldwide authorized frameworks. Notably, no violations have been detected in shipments to European markets for the reason that fourth inspection mission (October 2023).
Authorized Enforcement and Violation Processing
A unified vessel monitoring system operates constantly from central to native ranges, monitoring all vessels exceeding 15 meters in offshore waters. By December 31, 2025, all remaining instances of VMS sign loss and unauthorised boundary crossings have been resolved, with continued strict enforcement towards rising violations.
Coastal provincial authorities conduct common opinions of vessel registration, surveying, and fishing allow issuance to eradicate unregistered, unlicensed, and VMS-deficient vessels and deregistered vessels nonetheless working. These measures have considerably diminished overseas waters violations.
Sanctions towards vessels and fishermen violating overseas waters have intensified, producing measurable enhancements. In 2025, 20 vessels detained by overseas authorities underwent investigation, with 17 instances (85%) now resolved. General detention figures since 2017 present marked discount, with full cessation of violations in Pacific island nations. At present, solely six localities report vessel detentions in comparison with ten beforehand.
Vietnam maintains an unequivocal zero-tolerance stance towards IUU violations, committing to continued rigorous processing of remaining instances upon receiving full vessel and captain data from detaining nations.
Analysts counsel the end line is approaching. “Vietnam has completed extra in eight years than many countries obtain in many years,” observers word. “Yellow card removing wouldn’t merely enhance GDP, it will show Vietnam’s capability for ocean governance management.”
Vietnam presents a reworked actuality: bustling ports outfitted with digital inspection infrastructure, vessels monitored by satellite tv for pc monitoring techniques, and a fishing group actively upholding authorities mandates.
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