On March 27, at a hybrid meeting with 22 coastal provinces and Tay Ninh on measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha called for a clear response to issues raised by the European Commission (EC)’s IUU inspection team following its visit to Vietnam from March 10–19.

In a concerted effort to help the country lift the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning on seafood, Dong Thap Province is stepping up inspections and enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

From January 27, 2026 to February 23, 2026, Thanh Hoa province recorded no fishing vessels losing VMS connection for more than six hours, losing connection for over 10 days, or crossing permitted maritime boundaries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed Official Dispatch No. 03/CD-TTg, dated January 13, 2026, calling for continued high focus and determined implementation of tasks to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The dispatch stresses the need to resolutely address existing shortcomings, prevent any loopholes or gaps in organization and law enforcement, and strictly prohibit the legalization of violations. It also clearly states that no reports claiming “100% completion” should be made while IUU violations have not been thoroughly and definitively resolved.

Vietnam has seen positive progress in its fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing more than five years after it received a “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports from the European Commission (EC)