PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the online meeting with Vietnam's coastal localities, September 7, 2021.

“We have to begin from a grassroots level and involve the whole political system. Commune and ward authorities have to work with local people to raise their awareness of IUU fishing while provincial and district authorities should direct and monitor this process so that the EC’s ‘yellow card’ can be removed as soon as possible,” said PM Chinh.

The EC issued a "yellow card" warning on seafood from Vietnam in October 2017 after a number of Vietnamese fishing vessels were caught trespassing into other countries’ waters. 

Vietnam’s efforts, commitment, political will, cooperation, and transparency in IUU fishing over the past 4 years has been acknowledged by the EC, according to PM Chinh. 

The "yellow card" is followed by a "green card" if the IUU issue is resolved or a "red card" if it isn’t. A “red card” can lead to a complete trade ban on fishery products.