HCMC – Vietnam’s fisheries sector will tighten sanctions and close legal loopholes across the supply chain, from catch to consumption, as part of efforts to remove the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Under a draft Government decree that would replace Decree 38/2024/ND-CP, serious violations related to vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and traceability could face fines of up to VND600 million, along with stricter measures such as confiscation of fishing vessels.
A key revision is the classification of tampering with VMS equipment as a particularly serious offense. Acts such as disabling tracking devices, removing seals, or failing to return vessels to shore within 10 days of signal loss could incur fines ranging from VND300 million to VND500 million.
At the 34th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating IUU fishing on April 16, authorities said that despite progress over eight years in implementing recommendations from the EC, persistent shortcomings remain. Following its fifth inspection last month, the EC noted uneven enforcement in monitoring port landings and tracing imported raw materials transported by container ships across businesses.
At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung said the issue lies not in the lack of regulations but in inconsistent enforcement at the local level. The Government has therefore tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment with establishing an inter-agency task force to conduct on-site inspections at fishing ports instead of relying solely on periodic reviews.
Alongside tighter regulations, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security have been assigned to strengthen controls at estuaries and dismantle networks facilitating illegal fishing in foreign waters.
For fishing ports and businesses, deploying electronic catch documentation and traceability systems (eCDT) is seen as critical to improving transparency across the value chain, supporting sustainable fisheries development and accelerating the removal of the “yellow card” warning.
Vietnam currently has more than 80,350 fishing vessels registered in the Vnfishbase system. However, violations in foreign waters remain a concern, with 101 vessels detained between 2024 and mid-April 2026. This underscores the urgency of strengthening the legal framework to enhance deterrence and meet international market standards.
