The delegation is made up of officials and experts of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission, and the European Union Delegation to Vietnam.

The goal of this working trip is to evaluate Vietnam’s implementation of the EC’s recommendations on combating IUU fishing, especially the recommendations put forward by the delegation during the third inspection trip in October 2022, to see if the EC’s ‘yellow card’ warnings against Vietnam’s seafood products would be removed.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, Vietnam has since November 2022 carried out four recommendations offered by the EC, focusing on perfecting its legal framework; controlling fishing vessels’ operations; certification of output and traceability of exploited aquatic products; and law enforcement.

During their stay from October 10-18, the EC officials and experts will hold meetings with leaders of relevant agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and make field trips to some fishing ports and processing businesses.

Vietnam has affirmed its strong resolve to combat IUU fishing towards harmonizing international regulations and sustainable development of the country’s fishing industry.

This is the fourth time the EC delegation has come to Vietnam to examine the country’s efforts to combat IUU fishing.  

Source: VOV