That could help Vietnam’s fishery sector remove the yellow card this year after the EC's third inspection in mid-2020, he said.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported an inspection delegation of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG-Mare) is scheduled to visit Vietnam from May 25 to June 5 to inspect implementation of the EC recommendations fighting IUU fishing.
If the EC inspection team continues to find illegal fishing in the third inspection this year, Vietnam will not be able to remove the yellow card and may even receive a "red card" (banning imports), according to MARD.
The fight against IUU fishing is an important factor for the EC's decision of removing the yellow card or not, the MARD reported.
Therefore, Minister Cường has requested the 28 coastal provinces to promote the fight against IUU fishing and effectively implement the Fisheries Law. The provinces must strictly control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, product origin traceability, as well as fishing diaries and reports.
Nguyễn Quang Hùng, deputy director of MARD's General Department of Fisheries, said as of January this year, Vietnam had 13,150 ships with cruise monitoring equipment installed, including 2,372 ships with a length of over 24m and 10,778 ships with a length of 15m-24m.
That means 92 per cent of the total of over-24m-long ships have cruise monitoring equipment while only 37 per cent of ships with a length of 15m-24m have this equipment.
Cường said after two inspections in June 2018 and November 2019, the EC’s inspection team recognised Vietnam’s co-operation, transparency and honesty in providing and exchanging information during their time in Vietnam.
The country’s significant improvements in the monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing vessels have been noted, and the management process and organisation of fishing vessels through ports are carried out flexibly and effectively.
Vietnam has also made great efforts to install fishing vessel monitoring systems, disseminate regulations to vessel owners and implement gear marking fishing vessels based on the EC’s recommendations.
The EC’s inspection team also acknowledged Vietnam's efforts in increasing the management of fishing density through freezing offshore fishing fleets. Vietnam has completed a legal framework for fishing activities, including the Fisheries Law.
The sector has remained weak in managing foreign vessels visiting local ports to import fishery products. The traceability has not yet met the EC's requirements.
According to MARD, due to the EU yellow card for Vietnam's seafood products, Vietnam's exports to the EU fell by 6.5 per cent to US$390 million in 2018 and by 11.5 per cent to $345.2 million in 2019.
From being the second largest import market for Vietnam's seafood, after the yellow card, the EU has dropped to fifth, and its imports have decreased from 18 per cent to 13 per cent of Vietnam’s exports.
In January 2025, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the UK reached over 16 million USD, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year. The UK is the sixth-largest individual market for Vietnam’s shrimp imports, accounting for 5.5% of the total shrimp exports to various markets. Shrimp also holds the largest share (70%) in Vietnam’s total seafood exports to the UK.
Nguyễn Đức Bình, vice director of Quảng Ngãi Province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that 4,259 out of 5,194 fishing boats (82 per cent) had registered for operations at sea.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first two months of 2025 recorded positive signals in Vietnam's seafood export activities, with total revenue reaching USD 1.423 billion, growing 18.2% compared to the same period in 2024. In February 2025, the export value hit USD 655.197 million, showing an impressive growth of 42.6%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Kiên Giang Province, home to over 13,000 fishing vessels, is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Faced with challenges from offshore fishing, many vessels have shifted to near-shore fishing using destructive methods, severely damaging marine ecosystems.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Hoan Corporation (HOSE: VHC) continues to solidify its position as the leader in Vietnam's pangasius export industry with impressive business results in 2024 and positive prospects for 2025. Factors supporting growth, such as recovering demand, improved selling prices, and favorable international trade policies, make Vinh Hoan one of the top stocks to watch in investment portfolios for 2025.
Amid global trade uncertainties, Việt Nam is prioritising compliance with international market requirements to maintain and expand its agricultural exports.
On February 26, 2025, VinFast and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement to strongly promote green transformation goals. The collaboration between the two parties will contribute to the realization of the country’s sustainable development goals and help elevate the Vietnamese brand on the international market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2024, the total brackish water shrimp farming area in Ca Mau reached 278,600 hectares, with a shrimp output of 242,000 tons. This output achieved 99.59% of the set target and marked a 4.57% increase compared to the same period last year. The average shrimp yield attained 869 kilograms per hectare per year, representing a 38 kilograms per hectare per year increase compared to 2023. Shrimp export turnover reached USD 1.12 billion, positioning Ca Mau amongst the nation's leading localities in this sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2024, Ben Tre province expanded its high-technology application in aquaculture by an additional 523 hectares, surpassing the planned target of 500 hectares and achieving a fulfillment rate of 104.6%. To date, the province has converted 3,633 hectares to high-tech aquaculture out of the 4,000-hectare goal, representing 90.82% progress towards the 2021-2025 phase plan. This sector yields an average productivity of 60-70 tons per hectare, with a total output reaching 221,282 tons. The average profit margin ranges from VND 700 to 800 million per farming season, delivering substantial economic benefits to the local populace.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025 In 2025, Vietnam's brackish water shrimp industry will continue to grow sustainably, enhancing value-added products with strong contributions from local authorities and the business community.
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