Vietnam targets lifting EU’s IUU “yellow card” by Q4 2025
Vietnam aims to lift the EU's IUU "yellow card" by Q4 2025, addressing illegal fishing concerns. Minister Do Duc Duy stressed it's a matter of national credibility and sustainable fisheries.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has set an ambitious goal: to have the European Commission’s IUU “yellow card” warning lifted by the fourth quarter of 2025. The warning, issued in 2017 due to concerns over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, has since hindered Vietnam’s seafood exports, particularly to the EU market.
“This is more than just a trade issue, which also concerns national credibility and a pledge toward sustainable fisheries,” Minister Do Duc Duy stressed.
To meet this target, the ministry is pushing for a coordinated, all-hands effort. Key priorities include improving the vessel monitoring system, enforcing stricter controls over offshore and disputed fishing zones, and ensuring that violations, particularly illegal incursions into foreign waters, are promptly punished.
Coastal provinces have been urged to take swift action against IUU violations, while central agencies are accelerating revisions to technical standards for seafood exports and clearing roadblocks that hinder licensing and market access for exporters.
Raising awareness among fishing communities is also crucial. The ministry plans to ramp up communication campaigns to ensure fishermen understand the consequences of IUU practices and the long-term benefits of compliance.
Ultimately, lifting the yellow card is not only essential for regaining access to EU markets, but also a cornerstone of Vietnam’s broader strategy for sustainable and responsible fisheries development.
VFM
