Viet Nam to resolve IUU 'yellow card' at all costs

The EC Inspection Delegation is expected to visit Vietnam from March 9 to 19, 2026

On the afternoon of March 3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 32nd meeting of the National Steering Committee on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. This crucial session took place right before the European Commission (EC) Inspection Delegation's scheduled visit to Vietnam from March 9 to 19.

Also attending the online meeting, which connected the Government headquarters with coastal provinces and cities, were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Head of the Steering Committee; Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang; and leaders from central and local ministries and agencies.

This is an exceptionally important meeting to review the tasks and solutions for combating IUU fishing assigned by the Secretariat and Government leaders to various ministries, sectors, and localities. The meeting was held just ahead of the EC Inspection Delegation's anticipated visit to Vietnam from March 9 to 19, 2026, marking their 5th inspection over the past 9 years.

Prior to this, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 18/CD-TTg on February 25, 2026, which focused on preparations for working sessions with the EC Inspection Delegation, showing determination to lift the "yellow card" warning on Vietnamese seafood, and assigning highly specific tasks to each ministry, sector, and locality.

Many positive changes

At the meeting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment presented a report on the working plan and agenda with the EC Inspection Delegation (the implementation of EC recommendations; results and solutions for sustainable fisheries development, particularly the outcomes of nationwide occupational transition efforts). Relevant ministries and agencies also reported on their designated functions and tasks, with special emphasis on coordination.

Local authorities focused their reports on the results of combating IUU fishing and plans for working with the EC delegation; the implementation of tasks and solutions aiming to develop a sustainable fisheries sector locally, and occupational transition in the fishing sector (reduction in the number of vessels, number of re-employed workers, support policies, allocated resources, ongoing challenges, and future solutions); commitments to ensure no new fishing vessel violations occur during the EC delegation's visit; and localities that have yet to issue occupational transition policies in fisheries made explicit commitments to complete them within this week.

Reviewing recent tasks, particularly following Directive 18/CD-TTg over the past week, reports and opinions at the meeting indicated that the campaign against IUU fishing to remove the EC's "yellow card" and sustainably develop Vietnam's fisheries sector has seen many positive shifts, reflecting high political determination and vigorous action from the entire political system, the public, and the business community.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has issued inspection plans and organized working delegations to various localities; initially, it identified and rectified several cases "closed without penalties" that lacked legal grounds, requiring their review and re-handling in accordance with regulations.

Regarding fleet management, 100% of fishing vessels (over 80,000 vessels) have been registered and updated on VNFishbase; "3-no" fishing vessels, those ineligible to operate, are controlled, with local forces assigned to strictly manage their anchoring locations.

During the week, 10,745 departing vessels and 6,666 arriving vessels were inspected at ports; 7,795 tons of seafood production were monitored via the electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability (eCDT) system.

For traceability, authorities issued 164 receipt notes, 25 SC certificates, and 4 CC certificates for domestically exploited products; and appraised 5 import dossiers (302 tons); accumulating to 62 dossiers (3,203 tons) since the beginning of the year. By March 1, 2026, 17/17 localities had requested that local enterprises self-declare and review their seafood processing and export operations, and had established inter-sectoral teams to inspect traceability management.

During the week, no additional fishing vessels violated foreign waters. Information and communication campaigns highlighting Vietnam's efforts against IUU fishing continue to be promoted.

Delegates noted that this week is the high-peak phase for finalizing preparations to welcome the EC Inspection Delegation for work; the spirit is to prepare meticulously, report comprehensively, show substantive results, and provide persuasive explanations; there is no time for delay or waiting; no room for any errors or shortcomings; and no tolerance for subjectivity, negligence, or lack of responsibility.

Everything must clearly affirm the "high determination, great effort, and drastic action" of the whole country in removing the EC yellow card and developing a sustainable Vietnamese fisheries sector, being responsible to the international community.

Meticulous preparation of programs, scripts and agendas with the EC Delegation

Delivering his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh fundamentally agreed with the reports and opinions; praising the efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities, especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Science and Technology…

The Prime Minister explicitly stated that the dual, highest objective is to simultaneously develop the fisheries sector sustainably and in the long term (reducing offshore fishing which carries many risks and boosting aquaculture, deep processing, creating jobs, livelihoods, contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of the people); and remove the IUU yellow card per the EU's recommendations. This contributes to a growth rate of 10% or more, for the rapid, sustainable development of the country, for the legal and legitimate interests, happiness, and prosperity of the people, and for the honor and prestige of the country and the nation.

The Prime Minister emphasized the spirit is listening with utmost sincerity, sharing from the heart, and acting with concrete results; working seriously, substantively, effectively, continuously, and regularly, not formalistic, not coping, not perfunctory or rough, not doing things in batches or by movements; with high determination, immense effort, drastic action, saying is doing, committing is implementing, not saying no, not saying difficult, not saying yes without doing; "do not let the faults of an individual or a collective affect the joint efforts of the entire nation".

Besides the positive results achieved, the Prime Minister noted that there are still shortcomings and limitations that must be focused on to be thoroughly resolved right within this week. The application of technology and data to manage fisheries exploitation activities must be deployed more interconnectedly and synchronously, ensuring the criteria of being "accurate, sufficient, clean, live, unified, and shared". The handling of the EC's 5 recommendations must continue to be clarified and more detailed in the Report. The progress of occupational transition in some localities remains slow, and not reported promptly.

The Prime Minister clearly stated that the principle is to definitively resolve these remaining issues, finishing each task thoroughly, doing each job properly; all contents related to the sustainable development of the fisheries sector must be reported specifically, with concrete solutions, specific locations, specific personnel, not general.

Regarding general tasks in the coming time, the Prime Minister requested better efforts in communication, advocacy, and education to raise awareness, obligations, and responsibilities, mobilizing the serious, active, substantive, and effective participation of the people and businesses, for the very benefits of the people and businesses.

Identifying sustainable fisheries development and combating IUU fishing as a central, urgent political task of Party committees and authorities of coastal provinces, cities, communes, wards, and special zones. Meticulously prepare programs, scripts, and working contents with the EC Delegation; dossiers and data must be accurate, complete, and consistent. Absolutely no violations related to EU recommendations are allowed to occur.

"Do not let the faults of an individual or a collective affect the joint efforts of the entire nation"

Regarding specific tasks and solutions, the Prime Minister required ministries, sectors, agencies, and localities to continue drastically, synchronously, and effectively implementing assigned tasks, Directives of the Secretariat, Resolutions of the Government, directions of the Prime Minister, most recently Directive No. 18/CD-TTg.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment prepares a comprehensive report on sustainable fisheries development; focusing on long-term solutions such as a roadmap to reduce fishing intensity; fleet management; catch control; technology application; improving fishermen's livelihoods.

Finalize the entire working program and script; organize training, unify explanatory contents; review and thoroughly resolve existing issues regarding dossiers and data before the date the EC Delegation arrives for work. Issue documents to strictly direct and guide localities to prepare full dossiers and documents; organize the reception of the Delegation according to regulations, substantively, sincerely, and responsibly.

The Ministries of: Agriculture and Environment, Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Public Security, Science and Technology closely coordinate, unify data and information; do not let contradictions and inconsistencies occur during the working process. Assign officials with deep expertise, directly monitoring anti-IUU efforts to participate in working alongside the Delegation; be ready to fully exchange and explain contents the Delegation is interested in.

The Ministry of National Defense directs the Border Guard force to strictly control fishing vessels leaving and entering ports; deploy peak patrols in contiguous waters; do not let violations arise. The Ministry of Public Security accelerates the progress of investigating and prosecuting serious violation cases as recommended by the EC; strictly controls vessel owners and fishermen at their residences; coordinates to clarify responsibilities in localities with a high rate of "closing dossiers".

People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities report specifically on the work of occupational transition, sustainable fisheries development, reducing the number of exploiting vessels, creating jobs and livelihoods for the people; commit to not letting new violations arise, review, and thoroughly handle violating fishing vessels; prepare complete traceability dossiers. Thoughtfully prepare contents when the Delegation conducts on-site inspections in the localities; clearly assign responsible persons. Localities that have not yet issued occupational transition policies must complete this immediately.

VNPT and Viettel groups review data to be "accurate, sufficient, clean, live, unified, shared", ensuring timeliness and effectiveness. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers resolutely steps in to not let enterprises import seafood batches that violate IUU exploitation, resolutely not sacrificing major benefits for minor ones; build an occupational transition support fund for the people. Press agencies step up information and communication on Vietnam's activities to combat IUU exploitation, honor good examples and practices, especially guiding fishing at sea in accordance with Vietnamese and international legal regulations.

The entire political system upholds the spirit of responsibility and highest determination; acts drastically, synchronously, and effectively; prepares best for the inspection of the EC Delegation; does not let the errors and shortcomings of any individual or collective affect the joint efforts of the whole country in the determination to resolve the EC yellow card at all costs and develop a sustainable, responsible Vietnamese fisheries sector that is deeply integrated internationally.

The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU, to directly examine the specific situation, direct the handling of emerging issues, report immediately to the Prime Minister on issues exceeding his authority; and organize inspections, supervision, and encouragement in several key localities.