The European Commission (EC) will convene an online meeting on October 27 with Vietnam’s Directorate of Fisheries to review efforts to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) by Vietnam, which was given a “yellow card” warning by the EC. The Directorate has already delivered its report on Vietnam’s efforts to end IUU over the past few years. The Directorate’s Deputy General Director Nguyen Quang Hung said a meeting between the Government and local authorities on fighting IUU and the removal of the “yellow card” warning was followed by drastic measures.

Given the drastic engagement of all levels, Vietnam aims to have the yellow card removed in 2022 or 2023, Mr. Hung said. He went on to say, “Under the Prime Minister’s guideline, leaders of 28 coastal localities have pledged to end violations by fishing vessels. With its anti-IUU project, the Directorate aims to have the ‘yellow card’ lifted by 2022 or 2023. The Government and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will coordinate their efforts with localities to realize that goal.”

On October 23, 2017, the EC issued a “yellow card” warning to Vietnam after it had failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The EC said Vietnam must implement nine recommendations to remove the warning.

Source: VOV5