The National Steering Committee on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Prevention and Control on July 13 held an online meeting with representatives of 28 coastal localities to discuss measures to continue to combat IUU fishing. Addressing the meeting, the fifth held by the committee since it was set up in 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, head of the committee, underlined the determination to step by step moving towards the removal of the “yellow card,” imposed by the European Commission on Vietnam, thus boosting the development of fisheries sector. He noted that over the years, Vietnam has concentrated on building a legal system on fisheries to meet the requirements of integration and sustainable development of the sector, which has resulted in improvement of fishermen’s compliance to the law.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh addresses the meeting(Photo: VNA)
However, the Deputy PM pointed out that violations in fishing regulations, though showing decreases, still continue, the seafood origin tracing capacity has remained modest, and infrastructure system of fishing wharfs in 28 localities have received inadequate investment. He stressed the need to settle the overlapping of regulations and complete the legal corridor in the field. Deputy PM Thanh called for more efforts from the mass media in popularising relevant regulations and raising fishermen’s awareness in the field. He requested the 28 coastal localities to work harder in IUU fishing prevention and control and allocate more budget to the activities. In late 2017, the European Commission issued a "yellow card" warning to Vietnam, after the country failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in the fight against IUU fishing. The commission gave nine recommendations for Vietnam to implement in order to remove the card, which was cut to four after two times of examination in May 2018 and November 2019. So far, Vietnam has made a number of positive changes in preventing IUU fishing, including installing vessel monitoring systems (VMS) in fishing vessels and building a database on fishing vessels connecting the central to local levels.
Fisshing vessels of Quang Ninh go offshore for fishing (Photo: VNA)
As of June 30, 2021, VMS had been installed in 26,915 fishing vessels with length from 15m, reaching 87.45 percent. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, after nearly four years of implementing IUU prevention and fight measures, Vietnam’s efforts have been recognised by the EC. The commission has lauded Vietnam’s goodwill, cooperation, transparency and honest in providing and exchanging information on the results of IUU fishing prevention and control measures. Tien said that since 2020, due to COVID-19, the EC has not been able to send inspectors to Vietnam, however, the ministry has regularly reported the outcomes of the country’s implementation of the measures to the commissions. The ministry will strive to cut at least 40 percent in the number of fishing vessels committing violations of foreign waters in 2021 and completely end such violations in 2022. Participants at the meeting gave a number of ideas to strengthen IUU fishing prevention and control measures, including stricter punishments and the setting up of fishing surveillance teams in localities./.
Origin link: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/meeting-discusses-ways-to-strengthen-iuu-fishing-prevention-control-measures/204604.vnp
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 49 million, up 151% compared to the same period in 2025. This impressive growth reflects positive momentum in the tilapia sector, with Brazil emerging as a key driver of growth, while frozen tilapia fillets continued to be the industry's leading export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK have shown positive signs in the first months of 2026. While the UK’s overall tuna imports from the world declined, imports from Vietnam increased strongly, indicating that there is still room for Vietnam to expand its market share. However, behind this growth, competitive pressure remains intense, especially as the UK continues to be a major market for established suppliers such as Ecuador, Mauritius, and Ghana.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Biofloc technology is being piloted in several rice–shrimp farming models in Ca Mau Province, showing initial positive results in controlling pond environments, improving shrimp seed quality, and supporting sustainable aquaculture development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia together contributed USD 108 million to Vietnam’s pangasius exports, accounting for around 15% of the industry’s total export turnover. Amid tightening global whitefish supply and slowing demand in several traditional markets, Latin America is increasingly becoming an important expansion destination for the sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Alongside the development of high-tech shrimp farming, Ha Tinh Province is accelerating the cultivation of high-value freshwater aquatic species, with red tilapia emerging as an effective and sustainable farming model.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn