Khanh Hoa mobilizes all resources to lift IUU 'yellow card'

On March 4, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's working delegation, led by Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, held a meeting with the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee on implementing tasks to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

As the European Commission (EC) prepares to conduct its fifth inspection, the working session was regarded as a crucial overview to assess the readiness of the local fisheries management system.

Breakthroughs in fleet management and digital technology application

Reporting at the working session, Mr. Nguyen Trong Chanh, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Environment, stated that the province has achieved positive results in fleet management.

As of February 26, 2026, all 5,120 fishing vessels measuring 6 meters or longer have completed registration and licensing procedures, and their data have been updated in the VNFishbase system. Notably, all 1,484 vessels subject to mandatory requirements have installed Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) devices.

For 219 vessels deemed ineligible for operation, grassroots authorities have publicly listed, imposed strict monitoring measures, and submitted daily reports. Khanh Hoa province has affirmed that there are no longer any "3 NOs" vessels.

One of the province's highlights has been the application of technology to electronic seafood traceability. Khanh Hoa has installed eight self-service kiosk machines at Fisheries Control Representative Offices to support fishermen in making accurate declarations. All fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, along with unloaded volumes, are strictly monitored through the eCDT system. Fishing ports carry out departure and arrival confirmations in compliance with regulations. The Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center maintains a 24/7 duty roster to track fleet movements and promptly handle cases of signal loss or boundary crossing.

Acknowledging these efforts, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien appreciated the province's fleet management but requested that this work must be substantive. The Deputy Minister underscored that accountability must be clearly assigned to specific individuals in charge at the commune and village levels. The province was urged to urgently review fluctuations in vessel numbers and ensure that data between the Border Guard and fishing ports are fully consistent, preventing discrepancies in documentation when vessels enter or leave ports.

Strengthening law enforcement and ensuring product origin transparency

Law enforcement related to VMS equipment has been carried out strictly in Khanh Hoa. From 2024 to early March 2026, functional forces handled hundreds of administrative violations. Notably, since 2024, the province has recorded no cases of fishing vessels violating foreign waters. The province has also proactively established three working groups to inspect all enterprises exporting seafood to the EU, with no violations detected to date.

However, Mr. Nguyen Phu Quoc, Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, noted that the province must enhance transparency regarding the origin of tuna and swordfish, as these are two species for which the EC suspects Viet Nam of mixing imported raw materials.

Based on on-site monitoring at Hon Ro Port, Mr. Quoc affirmed that Vietnamese fishermen still harvest swordfish domestically but stressed that figures on port landings, Statements of Catch (SC), Catch Certificates (CC), and export volumes must be fully logical and consistent. For enterprises listed as “blacklist” cases, the EC pays special attention to administrative sanctions and the recovery of illicit profits.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien required Khanh Hoa to conduct strict onboard inspections of fishing logbooks and to closely coordinate with the police to thoroughly investigate suspicious consignments. The review of documentation related to refrigerated cargo vessels must be carried out urgently to ensure readiness to provide transparent evidence and eliminate any suspicion of “fish laundering” from the EC inspection delegation.

Preparing a direct report for a "life-or-death" mission

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized that this inspection aimed at lifting the "yellow card" is a "life-or-death" mission. The Deputy Minister directed relevant units to comprehensively review documentation and thoroughly address violations, particularly in the issuance of SC and CC documents and in fleet management.

This is a shared responsibility of the entire sector, requiring the whole political system to act drastically. "Removing the 'yellow card' must not be a formal response; it requires substantive action toward the sustainable development of the fisheries sector," affirmed the Deputy Minister.

In preparation for the EC's fifth inspection, the Deputy Minister requested that the province compile a concise and straightforward report focusing on four key areas: fleet management, vessel monitoring, traceability, and violation handling. Office documentation must be arranged in an orderly and scientific manner, while fishing port infrastructure, from wharves to auxiliary facilities, must be cleaned to demonstrate professionalism. Officials in charge must have a firm command of their expertise to provide direct and thorough responses, rather than evasive or hesitant ones.

Finally, the Deputy Minister affirmed that removing the "yellow card" is a national responsibility involving ministries and sectors such as Public Security, National Defense, and Justice. As a locality with extensive experience, Khanh Hoa must bear the highest level of responsibility towards the Government if any shortcomings occur. The Deputy Minister expressed confidence that with thorough preparation and close cross-sectoral coordination, Khanh Hoa would be among the top-performing provinces in helping Viet Nam’s fisheries sector lift the "yellow card" warning in this inspection round.

According to Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Trong Chanh, the province is mobilizing all resources to prepare documentation and data for working with the EC’s fifth inspection delegation. The Provincial People’s Committee has developed a detailed plan and clearly assigned responsibilities to each lead agency and individual, ensuring that data on fishing vessel activities and product traceability are fully reconciled and consistent. This careful preparation reflects Khanh Hoa’s highest political determination to join hands with the entire country in removing the "yellow card" imposed on Viet Nam's fisheries sector.