According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Vietnam has basically fulfilled the key recommendations made by the European Commission (EC) during its fourth inspection mission in October 2023 concerning the fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The report highlights that Vietnam has taken major corrective actions in several critical areas, including administrative sanctions in the fisheries sector, management of “three-no” fishing vessels (unregistered, unlicensed, and without tracking devices), and criminal prosecution of violations involving illegal fishing in foreign waters.
Strengthening Fisheries Management and Data Integration
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At the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Prevention and Control meeting on January 14, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà directed MARD to complete, within the first quarter of 2025, the synchronization and full integration of the following systems from central to local levels:
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National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase)
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Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
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Electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability (eCDT)
He also requested the issuance of unified regulations and procedures for managing, updating, and utilizing fisheries data, clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of authorities, law enforcement, fishing ports, seafood processors, exporters, and fishermen — following the principle that “violations occur where they are detected and must be addressed there.”
MARD is also integrating vessel, captain, and fisherman identification with the National Citizen Database, strengthening coordination with public security forces for comprehensive fisheries management.
Legal and Institutional Reforms
The Ministry will continue to review and amend legal frameworks to improve the detection and punishment of IUU violations, ensuring:
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Strict penalties for offenses involving national security or intentional violations;
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Accountability of authorities that fail to address or overlook violations;
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Stronger oversight of seafood collection, processing, and export facilities lacking traceable origins.
MARD is also revising conditions for private fishing ports to allow them to provide certain administrative services such as updating voyage data and certifying catch origins for vessels entering and leaving ports.
Significant Progress Achieved
According to MARD, Vietnam has made substantial progress in implementing the EC’s recommendations:
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98.9% of fishing vessels are now registered in the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase);
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100% of vessels 15 meters or longer are equipped with VMS tracking devices;
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90.3% of fishing licenses for vessels 15 meters or longer have been renewed;
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Across all vessels 6 meters or longer, 76.5% have valid licenses.
Currently, 888 “three-no” vessels remain nationwide — mostly reported as damaged, inactive, or nonexistent.
Vietnam has also digitized and expanded its seafood traceability system, with 86 fishing ports already implementing the eCDT system. The ministry is working to make this system fully operational nationwide to ensure traceability, transparency, and compliance with international and EC standards.
Toward the Lifting of the EC “Yellow Card”
Vietnam’s comprehensive efforts — from data integration and vessel monitoring to traceability and legal reform — demonstrate its strong political commitment to combating IUU fishing.
These measures aim to secure the lifting of the EC’s “yellow card”, restore Vietnam’s seafood reputation, and enhance market access for Vietnamese seafood exports to the European Union and other global markets.