Viet Nam demonstrates high determination to remove IUU 'yellow card'

The fifth inspection holds particular significance

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has just signed the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No. 18/CD-TTg dated February 25, 2026, on intensifying preparations for the fifth working session with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation, with the determination to remove the "yellow card" warning imposed on Vietnamese seafood.

The Official Dispatch was sent to the Ministers of National Defence, Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Agriculture and Environment, Science and Technology, Finance, Construction, and Industry and Trade, as well as to the Secretaries of provincial and municipal Party Committees and the Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and cities.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister acknowledged and commended the efforts, sense of responsibility, and initial results achieved by ministries, sectors, localities, functional forces, and the fishing community in implementing tasks to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing over the past period.

However, the fight against IUU fishing still faces a number of shortcomings and limitations, particularly in managing and controlling fishing vessels that are not eligible for operation. Many cases of vessels violating IUU regulations have not been thoroughly addressed; incidents of fishing vessels violating foreign waters persist. There remains subjectivity and insufficient determination in implementation among certain levels, sectors, and localities. As a result, after nearly eight years and four inspection times by the EC, Viet Nam has yet to have the "yellow card" lifted.

Drastically implementing 123 tasks, focusing on five key issues

The fifth inspection by the EC inspection delegation is expected to take place in early March 2026. This inspection is of particular significance, as the results will be a decisive factor in whether the EC lifts the "yellow card" warning or elevates it to "red card" for Viet Nam's seafood. Therefore, the Prime Minister has requested:

Relevant ministers and heads of sectors, as well as Party Secretaries and Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and cities involved in fishing, seafood purchasing, processing, and export, especially coastal localities, must regard this as an urgent and top-priority task. They are required to lead directly, mobilize maximum resources, and implement 123 tasks assigned by the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee in a decisive, synchronized, and effective manner.

These efforts must focus on solutions addressing five key issues, including the legal framework; fishing fleet management; monitoring, control, and surveillance of fishing vessels; traceability of seafood exploitation; and law enforcement and handling of violations in line with the EC's five recommendations.

From now until March 9, 2026, ministries, sectors, and localities need to continue intensifying inspection in accordance with the established plan (Decision No. 515/QD-BNNMT dated February 9, 2026, promulgating the plan for a peak inspection on implementing tasks to combat IUU fishing in 15 key localities), as well as implementing solutions to address the priority areas in line with the EC's recommendations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall chair and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador–Head of the Viet Nam Mission to the European Union, and relevant agencies to:

Develop a comprehensive program, scenarios, and contents for working with the EC inspection delegation (including technical, expert, and senior levels). These plans must be detailed and clearly assign responsibilities to each agency and unit for preparing dossiers and documents to substantiate reports and to promptly meet the inspection delegation's requirements, as well as clarify the responsibilities of each member participating in working with the EC.

Thoroughly and adequately prepare reception, logistics, and necessary facilities, particularly paying attention to interpretation services during meetings with the EC inspection delegation. Ministries and agencies are to designate officials with expertise and experience who directly monitor IUU-related issues to work with the delegation.

Organize online meetings with ministries, sectors, and localities based on the approved programs, scenarios, contents, and tasks to provide specific and detailed guidance on reception and working arrangements, ensuring that absolutely no errors occur.

Resolutely preventing ineligible fishing vessels from engaging in fishing activities

The Ministries of Justice; Agriculture and Environment; National Defence; Public Security; Science and Technology; Foreign Affairs; and other relevant ministries and sectors shall focus on effectively implementing the tasks assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister, in accordance with their respective functions, duties, and authority, and shall be responsible for the outcomes. Specifically:

The Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Public Security, and National Defence shall establish working groups to participate in the EC inspection delegations and organize appropriate communication during the inspection period.

The Ministry of Public Security should direct local police units to urgently consolidate files and proceed with prosecution and trial of criminal violations related to IUU fishing. Strictly manage fishing vessels and fishermen at their places of residence, ensuring full identification of the addresses of all vessel owners and fishermen as well as vessel operating areas, linked to the National Population Database. Soon deploy the system for managing port entry and exit of fishing vessels and fishermen on the VNeID platform to comprehensively monitor all vessels and fishermen involved in fishing activities.

The Ministry of National Defence should direct the Border Guard force to coordinate with relevant forces to strictly control fishing vessels' port entry and exit, resolutely preventing ineligible vessels from participating in fishing activities. Deploy peak levels of personnel, means, and equipment to control and guide fishermen operating in maritime boundary areas with neighboring countries, preventing any further cases of fishing vessels violating foreign waters.

The Ministry of Science and Technology proactively directs specialized units to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to urgently complete databases and professional software, including the national fisheries database, VMS system, administrative sanction database, eCDT system, E-logbook, and VMS-Alert disconnection warning system. All systems for controlling fishing vessel operations must be synchronized and interconnected, ensuring that data is accurate, complete, clean, real-time, consistent, shared, and verifiable, thoroughly addressing inconsistencies and ensuring stable and uninterrupted operation before March 6, 2026. It is also necessary to designate qualified officials to present these systems to the EC inspection delegation.

Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and cities involved in fishing, seafood purchasing, processing, and export shall direct the preparation of information and reporting documents that are complete and accurate (with data fully consistent with those previously reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for consolidation and submission to the EC), ensuring no passivity or surprise. Chairpersons should also be accountable to the Government and the Prime Minister if their localities fail to fulfill tasks for combating IUU fishing, which affects national efforts to lift the "yellow card" warning or risk escalation to a "red card."

The Prime Minister assigns the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to take the lead in monitoring, inspecting, urging implementation, and reporting to the Prime Minister on the results of this Official Dispatch.