Fishermen from Van Tuong commune head out to sea to catch seafood.

At the ceremony, fishermen renewed their commitment to complying with the law to aid Vietnam’s effort to get the European Commission's "yellow card" lifted.

“My boat fishes for tuna 30-40 nautical miles from shore. We have to present all relevant documents to the Border Guard prior to departure and to report wherever we go. We hope for a prosperous New Year with favorable weather and good fortune,” said fisherman Phu Trung Binh.

Van Tuong commune has nearly 900 fishing boats employing 3,000 workers. As the new fishing season begins, commune leaders are urging fishermen to modernize their boat and equipment, install and maintain vessel tracking devices, strictly adhere to regulations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and absolutely refrain from fishing in foreign waters.