Vietnam makes suitable efforts to prevent IUU fishing: WTO expert
(VOVWORLD) -Vietnam has made suitable efforts to clamp down on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing while striving to negotiate to have the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” removed, a counsel at the Advisory Center on WTO Law told the Vietnam News Agency.
 Fishing boats are at anchor near Tho Chu Island, Phu Quoc District in Kiên Giang Province (Photo: Hong Dat/ VNA) |
According to Christian Vidal-León, who previously worked as a dispute settlement lawyer in both the Legal Affairs and the Appellate Body Secretariat of the WTO, over the past six years, the Vietnamese Government has issued a number of related documents, and aligned the European Union’s recommendations with the Law on Fisheries, including the Government’s decision to issue an action plan on fighting IUU fishing in 2023.
Commenting on the fact that the EC has not yet delisted Vietnam from the group of “warned countries”, Vidal-León said that the EC may be waiting for the results of Vietnam's implementation of its legal documents before making a decision. The EU is satisfied with the law reforms and awaits how Vietnam enforces those laws, he added.