Lam Dong Province Accelerates IUU Fishing Reforms to Remove EU Yellow Card

Lam Dong province in Vietnam is intensifying its fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to satisfy the European Commission’s “yellow‑card” warning. At a steering‑committee meeting on 31 July, Deputy Director Nguyen Van Chien reported that 14 of the 16 tasks required by the Prime Minister’s directive have been completed, representing 87.5 % of the programme.

All 8,176 fishing vessels have been registered in the national fisheries database and 99.42 % of vessels 15 m or longer now carry voyage‑monitoring systems. Over 91 % hold valid fishing licences and food‑safety certificates, though 954 vessels (11.65 %) remain ineligible because of expired documents. The province is improving electronic catch documentation, tightening inspections, imposing stricter penalties and working to prevent vessels from entering foreign waters. Local authorities have been instructed to finish the remaining measures by 30 September, aiming to lift the EU warning and achieve a more sustainable fisheries sector.