100% of enterprises processing and exporting high-risk seafood species to the European market are inspected using risk assessment methodologies; discrepancies regarding raw materials, conversion norms, output yields, and traceability records are thoroughly verified and conclusively handled.

The above regulation is specified in the Decision issuing the Action Plan to implement measures overcoming the European Commission's (EC) recommendations following the 5th inspection on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung on August 10.

Seafood processing and export with "high risks" to the EU must undergo risk assessment

Accordingly, the Plan's objective aims to thoroughly rectify existing shortcomings and limitations while executing the EC's recommendations fully and substantively following the fifth inspection; creating a fundamental shift in fisheries management, preventing and advancing toward terminating IUU fishing; fully preparing dossiers, data, and execution evidence to work with the EC, determined to lift the "Yellow Card" warning in 2026; while concurrently developing Vietnam's seafood industry transparently, responsibly, and sustainably.

Within which, the plan targets 100% of registered fishing vessels to be fully, accurately, and promptly updated on the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase); with vessel owners, locations, operational statuses, and legal statuses clearly identified.

100% of fishing vessels subject to mandatory VMS installation have their equipment connectivity controlled upon departing and arriving at ports; instances of connection loss, boundary crossing, or equipment tampering are alerted, verified, and handled within prescribed time frames.

100% of fishing vessel arrivals and departures with length of 6 meters or greater entering/leaving ports or docks are recorded on the eCDT system; no confirmation certificates for wild-caught seafood materials are issued for raw materials from fishing vessels lacking data or possessing invalid data on eCDT.

100% of dossiers for issuing material confirmation certificates and wild-caught seafood origin certificates serving exports to markets with requirements are processed on eCDT under Circular No. 81/2025/TT-BNNMT issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Environment, except for force majeure cases under regulations.

100% of enterprises processing and exporting high-risk species to the European market are inspected using risk assessment methodologies; discrepancies regarding raw materials, conversion norms, output yields, and traceability records are thoroughly verified and conclusively handled.

100% of IUU violation cases are received, verified, and handled within competent authority and time limits; results are promptly updated onto the sanction database, leaving no backlog of dossiers without legitimate justification.

Determined to lift the "Yellow Card" warning in 2026

Preventing, maximally reducing, and advancing toward terminating instances of Vietnamese fishing vessels violating foreign waters; every emerging case is investigated, handled, and clarified regarding the responsibilities of vessel owners, captains, alongside related organizations and individuals. Thoroughly overcoming existing shortcomings and executing EC recommendations fully and substantively following the fifth inspection.

Creating a fundamental shift in fisheries management, preventing and advancing toward terminating IUU fishing; fully preparing dossiers, data, and execution evidence to work with the EC, determined to lift the "Yellow Card" warning in 2026; while concurrently developing Vietnam's seafood industry transparently, responsibly, and sustainably.

Under the Plan, relevant sectors and localities will strictly manage fishing vessels whose registrations have been deregistered but retain operational capability; unregistered, uninspected, and unpermitted fishing vessels; while assigning agencies, units, and individuals to monitor each high-risk vessel.

Inter-agency inspections will be conducted for enterprises processing swordfish, tuna, and high-risk species exported to the European market; verifying post-processing recovery conversion rates to ensure alignment with actual production realities; issuing standard operating procedures (SOP) controlling processing plants; building annual inspection plans based on risk assessment; and boosting surprise inspections.

Concurrently, organizing inter-agency and surprise inspections for enterprises importing and processing high-risk species; investigating and thoroughly handling discrepancies between dossiers and actual raw materials; establishing mechanisms to notify the EC and relevant member states immediately upon detecting violating shipments that have been exported or are in transit.

During the "Peak Month", ministries, sectors, and localities concentrate on conclusively handling remaining tasks, notably: managing and controlling fishing fleets; registration, inspection, and licensing; installing, maintaining connectivity, and controlling VMS devices; controlling fishing vessels departing and entering ports; updating and operating VNFishbase and eCDT; origin traceability; controlling imported seafood raw materials; verifying and handling violations regarding VMS connection loss, exceeding allowable maritime fishing boundaries, alongside preventing and handling fishing vessels to prevent violations in foreign waters...

To achieve the above goals, the Plan outlines key tasks and solutions, including: Perfecting the legal framework; managing and controlling fishing fleets; monitoring, inspecting, supervising, and controlling at ports; implementing port state measures; tracing origins of domestically wild-caught seafood; controlling imported seafood raw materials; law enforcement; digital transformation, data connection, and sharing; international cooperation, information, and communication; and launching a "Peak Month" to execute IUU anti-illegal fishing work.

Source: Bao dien tu Dan Viet