The southern coastal province of Kien Giang province is focusing on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 180 days, from December 2022 to May 2023, to contribute to the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC)’s ‘yellow card’ warning on Vietnamese seafood removed.

The European Commission (EC) has acknowledged Vietnam's recent efforts in enhancing the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as its openness to the EC's recommendations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on February 3.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to build a 180-day action plan to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as recommended by the European Commission (EC), and submit it to him and the Government for approval and issuance.

The south-central province of Binh Dinh is determined to have no local fishing boats violating foreign waters in the next six months before the European Commission (EC) review the “yellow card” against Vietnamese fisheries sector, according to Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Ho Quoc Dung.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will work with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to strengthen patrols, inspections and control at sea to prevent vessels from infringing foreign waters, and take thorough solutions to violations.

Vietnam still has a lot of things to do to have the European Commission (EC)’s ‘yellow card’ warning on Vietnamese seafood removed, according to Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS) Nguyen Chu Hoi.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh affirmed Vietnam’s all-out efforts to fight and eradicate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing while meeting with an inspection delegation of the European Commission (EC) in Hanoi on October 28.

Vietnam’s 28 coastal localities have scored achievements in fighting illegal, unreported and undocumented (IUU) fishing towards having the “yellow card” warning of the European Commission (EC) lifted.

Vietnam has been doing its utmost to fight Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in an attempt to lift the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning against its seafood exports and avoid a “red card” which could lead to a trade ban.

Officials from the European Commission (EC) will visit Vietnam again this October to check measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in coastal areas, according to an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries (VDF).