Hanoi: The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has issued a plan for a high-intensity campaign to implement measures for addressing the European Commission (EC)'s recommendations on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, joining hands with the rest of the country to have the EC's "yellow card" warning lifted in 2026. Under the plan, the city will focus on a number of key tasks, including strictly managing 100% of its fishing fleet, cleaning and regularly updating data on the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), and resolutely preventing vessels that fail to meet the required conditions from operating at sea.

According to Vietnam News Agency, the plan is a significant step in Vietnam's broader efforts to ensure sustainable fishing practices and compliance with international standards. The campaign aims to align local practices with EC regulations to avoid further sanctions that could impact the country's seafood export market. The focus on data management and fleet monitoring is expected to play a crucial role in identifying and curbing unlawful fishing activities.