Removing the European Commission’s (EC) “yellow card” warning and developing the fisheries sector in a sustainable manner is currently one of the most important political tasks, directly linked to national prestige and interests.

At present, the number of fishing vessels registered and updated on the VnFishbase system has reached 79,231, accounting for 100% of vessels. Fishing vessels that do not meet operating requirements are strictly monitored and managed at their mooring locations. Notably, vessels that previously crossed permitted fishing boundaries or lost connection with vessel monitoring systems (VMS) have been thoroughly handled by the competent authorities. Relevant ministries and sectors have coordinated with telecommunications enterprises to complete and standardise the national fisheries database, comprehensively digitise it, ensure interoperability and integration for multiple objectives, and meet the criteria of being “accurate, sufficient, clean, and live” and ready to present the results to the EC inspection mission. On-the-ground inspections against IUU fishing have been carried out simultaneously in many provinces and cities.

However, the remaining workload is still very large, while time is limited. The path to realising the “dual objective” of both removing the “yellow card” and steering the fisheries sector towards sustainable development continues to face obstacles that require determined efforts to overcome. At its 26th meeting, the National Steering Committee for IUU Prevention and Control assessed that a number of tasks have yet to meet the required standards and timelines.

Accordingly, ministries, sectors, and local Party committees and authorities must strictly implement the government and Prime Minister’s resolute, close, and concrete directions and administration at each weekly meeting of the National Steering Committee for IUU Prevention and Control. Leaders must be courageous and willing to take responsibility, face the truth, “do each task thoroughly and see it through to completion”, and resolutely put an end to formality and superficial responses, while applying technology, digital data, and practical evidence as a basis to demonstrate Viet Nam’s capacity for fisheries management to the EC.

In addition, the EC has its own database to cross-check and detect dishonest declarations related to seafood products imported into the EU. Therefore, violations committed by a very small number of enterprises and individuals could become “the rotten apple that spoils the barrel”, undermining the efforts of the entire system in combating IUU fishing.

Throughout more than eight years of efforts against IUU fishing, the handling of fishing vessels that cross maritime boundaries to operate in foreign waters has remained a persistent challenge. To address this issue at its root, in addition to regularly inspecting fishing vessels departing from ports, Border Guard forces must maintain patrols and strictly control sea areas adjacent to neighbouring countries. Local police forces need to accelerate investigations and strictly handle brokerage networks and organisations that facilitate fishing vessels and fishers engaging in illegal fishing in foreign waters, as well as acts of document falsification and fraud within the supply chain; and coordinate to clarify the responsibilities of organisations and individuals related to cases and consignments showing signs of IUU violations.

Only when every tonne of harvested seafood is associated with environmental responsibility, compliance with regulations, and the safeguarding of national prestige and interests can the fisheries sector truly realise the objective of removing the IUU “yellow card”, which is helping the fishing industry transition towards a more modern model in line with green growth and sustainable development policies.