Viet Nam has spent more than eight years working to address the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing on Vietnamese seafood, from refining its legal framework and tightening vessel management to ensuring transparent traceability. These substantive improvements are laying the groundwork for Viet Nam to enter a decisive phase in removing the “yellow card”.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has underlined that having the European Commission (EC)’s "yellow card" warning over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing removed in 2025 and sustainably developing the fisheries sector is an urgent and essential task, one that must be completed without delay.

The Government has issued Resolution No. 86/NQ-CP dated November 4, 2025, outlining key tasks for the final months of 2025 to ensure the highest fulfilment of socio-economic development goals for the year.

Provinces across the Mekong Delta are intensifying coordinated measures to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as part of nationwide efforts to have the European Commission (EC)'s “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood lifted.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a decision to issue an action plan for the peak month combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries development.

The Viet Nam Coast Guard (VCG) on October 17 held a conference to launch an intensive campaign aimed at preventing and ending illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing violations.

The number of unlicensed vessels has declined, non-compliant fishing boats have decreased, vessels equipped with vessel monitoring systems (VMS) have increased, and no new cases of disconnected boats, boundary violations, or foreign detentions have been reported.

Presiding over the 16th session of the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing on October 7, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on all-level Party Committees, authorities and functional forces to demonstrate the highest spirit of responsibility in serving the nation and people as well as overcome all challenges to fulfill their duties.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 15th meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, connected online with 21 coastal cities and provinces.

Efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing must go beyond lifting the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning to develop a sustainable fisheries sector and protect Viet Nam’s reputation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed at a meeting on September 23.

With the aim of removing the IUU "yellow card," protecting marine resources, and enhancing the reputation and standing of Viet Nam’s fisheries sector on the global market, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has launched a new plan to inspect and control the import and transit of albacore tuna through Viet Nam’s territory via container ships.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has signed a decision issuing an action plan on fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and preparing for working sessions with the fourth inspection delegation of the European Commission (EC).