Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Removing Yellow Card From European Commission (EC): Vietnam's Determined Actions

Abstract

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities have negatively impacted Vietnam fisheries. As a result, the European Commission (EC) issued a yellow card warning in October 2017. This paper examines how Vietnam has responded to the EC’s recommendations to address the yellow card. The analysis used a mix of documents analysis and online group discussion approaches. Although Vietnam has made considerable efforts to halt IUU fishing and clear the yellow card, the results are still insufficient to remove the yellow card. However, the yellow card has brought about positive signals for Vietnamese fisheries management. It is also an opportunity for the national marine fisheries sector and fishers communities to be more responsible in fishing. Institutional and legal regulations have been refined to be in line with international rules and enormously improved the enforcement capacity of the fisheries management system for fishers to end the situation of fishing vessels engaged in illegal fishing in the waters of Vietnam and other countries. Recommended actions to address the yellow card include finalisation of the fisheries guidance decrees in line with obligations to combating IUU fishing, more robust sanctions, strengthening the monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) system, information dissemination and education of the fisheries law and relevant regulations, and apply an electronic catch documentation and traceability (eCDT) system.