Ho Chi Minh City promotes digitalization, tightens management to remove "yellow card" for seafood

(HTV) - After more than 7 years of efforts to remove the EC's "yellow card", Vietnam has strengthened management and applied technology in monitoring. Ho Chi Minh City is currently drastically implementing many solutions, preparing for the fifth inspection in September 2025.

Ho Chi Minh City resolutely implements solutions to combat IUU fishing

Vung Tau Ward currently has 1,350 fishing boats, accounting for more than 40% of the total number of boats in Ho Chi Minh City, of which more than 820 boats are 15 meters or longer, specializing in offshore fishing. Thanks to increased propaganda, raising awareness among fishermen and strictly handling violations, in the past 5 years, no fishing boats violating foreign waters have been arrested.

Fishing fleets are managed and monitored to implement solutions against IUU fishing, aiming to remove the "yellow card" for fisheries.

Mr. Du Trong Hoa, a fisherman in Vung Tau ward, said: “People need to comply with regulations and only fish in their own waters to help the whole country remove the yellow card. If it cannot be removed, seafood consumption will be very difficult.”

Promoting data digitization and technology application in seafood traceability

Since March 2024, fishing ports in Ho Chi Minh City have deployed national electronic traceability software (eCDT) to serve import and export procedures for fishing vessels.

Mr. Truong Van Sanh - Deputy Director of Cat Lo Fishing Port (Phuoc Thang Ward), said: "Fishermen only need to log into the system, the data will be checked and approved online by the port and the Representative Office, much more convenient for monitoring work".

Ho Chi Minh City fishermen are instructed to declare and trace the origin electronically, contributing to removing the "yellow card" for seafood.

As of August 2025, all fishing vessels in Ho Chi Minh City have registered and updated data to the national system; more than 97% of vessels 15 meters or longer have installed voyage monitoring devices; over 80% have been licensed to operate.

In preparation for the EC inspection team, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has directed agencies, units and localities to review and strictly handle illegal fishing in foreign waters. Violations will be prosecuted and tried publicly to deter, prevent and create positive changes in the entire fisheries sector.

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Source: https://htv.com.vn/tphcm-day-manh-so-hoa-siet-chat-quan-ly-de-go-the-vang-thuy-san-222250825112926113.htm