Khanh Hoa fisherfolks committed to lifting IUU yellow card

A sense of responsibility from offshore voyages

Under the June sun, fishing ports across Khanh Hoa province bustle with vessels coming and going, filling the air with the energy of hard work at sea. Offshore voyages are no longer just about hauling in fish and shrimp, they carry the shared responsibility of helping the entire country lift the yellow card warning issued by the European Commission (EC). That spirit is reflected in a powerful shift from awareness to action among individual fishermen and fishing unions across the province.

At Hon Ro fishing port in Nam Nha Trang ward, the province's largest fishing hub, the self-discipline of the fishing community is clearly in evidence. Duong Minh Ly, owner and captain of fishing vessel KH 96778 TS, said compliance with vessel monitoring system (VMS) regulations is a matter of survival. Aware that equipment failure can trigger an automatic violation record and directly disrupt fishing operations, Ly proactively installed a backup VMS device to maintain uninterrupted 24-hour connectivity. Port entry and exit procedures are strictly observed: before departure, border defense forces inspect VMS equipment, verify crew lists, and photograph vessels for the official record; upon return, authorities recheck data and apply official seals.

Ly noted that given the significant costs involved in each offshore trip, fishermen constantly remind one another to comply strictly with all regulations to avoid the financial blow of penalties. His vessel currently fishes entirely within Vietnamese waters, averaging around 10 tonnes per trip, enough to break even and cover operating costs for the next voyage. He called on every vessel owner to take personal responsibility and ensure zero violations, in order to protect the collective efforts of all fishermen who work day and night to uphold the reputation of their region's seafood.

Nguyen Duc Thang, Chairman of the Fishermen's Union of Bac Nha Trang ward, said the union's more than 22 offshore vessels have all maintained full compliance and have not violated foreign maritime boundaries. The most pressing pressure facing fishermen is rising fuel prices, which have pushed up costs for ice and provisions, adding around around 50 million VND (approximately  USD 1,950), an increase of more than 30 percent, to the total cost of a voyage lasting more than 20 days. Although fish prices at the wholesale level have remained around 27,000 VND (approximately USD 1.05) per kilogram, squeezing profit margins, fishermen remain determined to keep going to sea, both because fishing is their longstanding livelihood and because resolving the yellow card is essential to reopening export markets for their catch.

Advancing technology in fisheries management

Port management authorities have been working alongside fishermen to modernize their operations and provide better support. Nguyen Van Ba, Director of Hon Ro Fishing Port Management Board, said the unit is coordinating closely with the Nha Trang Fisheries Inspection Station and border defense forces to maintain rigorous vessel entry and exit controls. Efforts are also focused on guiding fishermen in the use of the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT) and electronic fishing logbooks to ensure transparent voyage data. Fishermen at the port have become relatively proficient with the eCDT software, helping to reduce administrative processing time. For the electronic fishing logbook, a newer tool requiring a high degree of accuracy, the management board is working with providers accredited by the Department of Fisheries and Surveillance to organize hands-on training and pilot rollouts in line with the established schedule.

Data from the Khanh Hoa provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment points to significant advances in fleet management driven by digital transformation. As of June 15, all 5,084 fishing vessels of six meters or longer in the province have been fully registered in the national VNFishbase database, achieving a 100 percent registration rate. All 1,475 vessels of 15 meters or longer engaged in offshore fishing have completed VMS installation. In May 2026 alone, the eCDT system processed more than 3,300 vessel arrivals and more than 3,000 departures. Total seafood unloaded at ports exceeded 8,600 tonnes, of which 8,578 tonnes were accurately monitored and recorded in the electronic system. This across-the-board progress helped Khanh Hoa score 94 points and earn a "good" rating in the government's self-assessment of IUU counter-fishing task implementation, having completed 14 of 17 assigned tasks, with the remaining three ongoing tasks proceeding on schedule.

Despite these encouraging results, Le Dinh Khiem, Director of the Khanh Hoa provincial Sub-department of Fisheries and Islands, acknowledged that the path to fully lifting the yellow card still faces challenges. A number of vessels remain docked for extended periods due to legal complications arising from unauthorized engine replacements that do not meet technical standards, preventing vessels from obtaining inspection certification, or from poor economic performance that has left some boats short of crew. Scattered infrastructure in some coastal flat-beach areas also complicates monitoring and control efforts.

"To address these issues, the sub-department is working with local authorities to review and update the list of high-risk vessels and to strengthen inter-agency patrols. We are also continuing to roll out support policies such as VMS equipment subscription fee assistance to ease the financial burden on fishing households," Le Dinh Khiem said.

The ultimate goal of Khanh Hoa's fisheries sector is not to pass inspections but to build a responsible, sustainable, and humane fishing industry. Maintaining discipline at sea, providing maximum support for fishermen heading offshore, and ensuring transparency across the entire fishing supply chain will be the decisive factors in fully resolving the yellow card warning and affirming the standing of Vietnamese seafood on the international stage.

In the provincial government's self-assessment of task implementation assigned by the Prime Minister and relevant ministries, Khanh Hoa has completed 14 of 17 tasks, achieving a completion rate of 82 percent. The three remaining ongoing tasks are being actively carried out on schedule, with none delayed or overdue. Across the province, the entire political system and coastal fishing communities are united in their resolve to lift the IUU yellow card.