Efforts to curb IUU fishing have evolved from inconsistency to a unified determination across 22 provinces with fishing vessels. (Source: Quang Ngai Newspater)

The year 2026 marks the eighth year of Vietnam's efforts to lift the European Commission's (EC) yellow card on fisheries. With the involvement of the entire political system from central to local levels, lifting the yellow card is not merely a response but a move towards building a sustainable fishery in both economic and environmental terms. Real actions leading to tangible results were clearly evident in 2025.

Simply tampering with two journey monitoring devices can lead to criminal prosecution. Cumulatively from 2024 to now, 91 criminal cases on IUU violations have been prosecuted nationwide. From hundreds of vessels violating foreign waters in 2017, only 20 remained by 2025. Efforts to curb IUU fishing have evolved from inconsistency to a unified determination across 22 provinces with fishing vessels.

By the end of 2025, 80% of vessels violating foreign waters had been addressed, with a goal to resolve 100% by early next year. Twenty-eight weekly meetings between the government and various ministries and localities have thoroughly addressed the EC's recommendations.

With the management of over 18,000 deregistered fishing vessels since 2020 improved, solutions for over 6,000 non-compliant vessels, and weekly evaluations of task completion at each level, Vietnam continues to aim for substantial progress in developing a responsible and sustainable fishery sector.