Nguyen Quang Hung, deputy head of the Directorate of Fisheries, said the yellow card has affected the export of Vietnamese seafood, but it also creates an opportunity for Vietnam to make its fishery sector more sustainable and responsible. He said all 9 recommendations made by the EC are important to the sector, adding that the recommendations were included in the Law on Fisheries which will become effective next January.

Mr. Hung said Vietnam has taken steps to have the yellow card removed which have had positive results. Vietnam has tightened its management of fishing vessels, reviewed the plan for the domestic fishing fleet in alignment with seafood reserves, and stepped up seafood origin tracking and fishing diary declarations under regional and global regulations.