EU delegation to visit Vietnam for IUU fishing assessment

HCMC – The European Commission (EC) is scheduled to dispatch an inspection team to Vietnam in October for the fourth round of assessment on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, according to the Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries.

In preparation for the EC’s forthcoming inspection, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang chaired an online conference on August 29 with representatives from 28 coastal provinces and cities to discuss measures for combatting IUU fishing and resolving the “yellow card” issued by the EU in 2017.

Receiving the “yellow card” not only results in additional time, effort, and expenses in handling the paperwork for seafood exports to the EU, but also undermines Vietnam’s reputation, according to the Directorate of Fisheries.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has warned that failing to address the issues leading to the “yellow card” might escalate into a “red card,” resulting in a complete ban on seafood exports to Europe.

To remove the “yellow card,” leaders from various government bodies, sectors, and localities have been urged to intensify efforts in monitoring, inspecting, and controlling fishing activities. This involves enhancing the management of fishing fleets, certifying fishery output, tracing the origins of fishery products, and enforcing relevant laws.

During the conference, the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance proposed continued collaboration with the government to enforce IUU regulations. This includes refraining from the purchase, processing, or export of seafood sourced from entities violating IUU regulations.

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