Vietnam accelerates reforms to lift EU fisheries yellow card

Vietnam is intensifying nationwide measures to address the European Commission’s “yellow‑card” warning over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

In late July, Lam Dong province reported that it had completed 87.5% of the tasks set out in the Prime Minister’s directive. As of July 31, 2026, Deputy Director Nguyen Van Chien reported that 14 of the 16 required tasks are complete. All 8,176 vessels are registered in the national database, and 99.42% of vessels 15 meters or longer are equipped with voyage-monitoring systems. While over 91% hold valid licenses and food-safety certificates, 11.65% of vessels remain ineligible due to expired documentation. The province aims to complete all remaining measures by September 30.

Ha Tinh province continues to utilize a community-based fisheries management model to reduce violations. In the Tien Dien commune, the local management organization has grown to 273 members who cooperate with border-guard patrols. This approach has contributed to a decline in recorded violations, falling from 21 in 2021 to only two minor infractions in the first half of 2026.

On August 11, 2026, Vice Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung signed a national action plan to lift the EU warning by the end of the year. The plan mandates updating 100% of vessel data in the National Fisheries Database and requires all vessels six meters or longer to be recorded in an electronic traceability system. To protect European markets, the strategy includes risk-based inspections for companies exporting high-risk species, such as tuna and swordfish, to verify production volumes and traceability.