Competent ministries, sectors and localities should continue efforts to lift the European Commission’s “yellow card” against the Vietnamese seafood products for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as an inspection team of the commission will visit Vietnam soon, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan.

The south-central province of Binh Dinh has shown a strong determination in handling any fishing vessels that have no registration, fishing licences and certificates proving their seaworthiness (“three no's” fishing vessels), as part of the efforts to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 20, 2022, Ms. Le Thi Tuyet Nhung – Director of Bac Lieu branch of Ca Mau Seafood Processing and Services JSC (CASES), a member company of the Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers Vietnam (VASEP) represented VASEP to present notebooks to propagandize against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to students of Ganh Hao High School, Bac Lieu province.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung, Deputy Director of Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the electronic log-book is being piloted in some coastal provinces of Vietnam.

The recognition that fishing ports have adequate systems to verify the origin of caught fish is the basis for establishing fisheries management measures, which well meet regulations against IUU fishing.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2021, VASEP will continue its activities on the basis of joining hands with the local provinces and fishermen as well as implementing a program to support member enterprises to better fulfill their commitment against IUU fishing.

(vasep.com.vn) In March 2021, the Department of International Cooperation - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development cooperated with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) to compile and publish the guidebook "A Guide to Compliance with Regulations on Combating IUU Fishing and Necessary Recommendations for Exporting Seafood to the United States".

On November 15, 2018, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development promulgated a Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BNNPTNT on preparation and submission of fishing reports and fishing logbooks; publishing of list of fishing ports designated to issue statement of fishery products processed from catches, and IUU vessel list; validation of catch statements for raw materials and catch certificates.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 3 months of 2021, the weather situation was quite favorable for fishing activities, fishing fleets of Binh Dinh province still maintained the number and intensity of fishing activities, so the exploitation output increased compared to the same period of 2020.

The European Commission (EC) has made positive assessment of Vietnam’s fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing following two inspections in the past over three years since EC imposed a “yellow card” on Vietnam’s export of aquatic products to Europe.