Viet Nam’s marine fisheries assessed in latest TAKING STOCK Report
The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has been highlighted in the latest TAKING STOCK – Online Transparency of Fisheries Management Information assessment conducted by the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI). Published on 28 January 2025, this in-depth review evaluates the accessibility, timeliness, and clarity of information related to marine fisheries management in accordance with the FiTI Standard. The findings reveal that there are substantial transparency gaps across key thematic areas.
As the world’s seventh largest marine fishing sector, Viet Nam supports nearly a million commercial fishers and over 35,000 fishing vessels with engines above 90hp. Despite this scale, the TAKING STOCK assessment reveals significant transparency challenges. Of the 34 key areas evaluated, information is available online for only 12, and within these, the quality of publication varies widely. Critical gaps persist in public access to essential data, such as fishing subsidies and the national vessel registry. Compounding these issues, the official website for reporting on fish stock health went offline in 2024 and remained inaccessible at the time of the assessment’s conclusion.
The governance structure of Viet Nam’s fisheries sector, which involves multiple government agencies at central and district levels, likely contributed to difficulties in collating and publishing information. The Department of Fisheries (DOF) oversees fisheries management and data publication, but its efforts appear to be hampered by overlapping roles and responsibilities among other agencies.
Policy Inconsistencies and Communication Gaps
One of the report’s significant findings is the lack of consistent communication of national policies for the marine fisheries sector. The assessment identified five separate 10-year strategy documents, alongside numerous subsidiary policies from various ministries and departments, often presenting conflicting goals.
“Clear communication of national objectives and targets is fundamental for fisheries transparency. However, discrepancies in targets for fish production volumes, authorised fishing vessels, and plans for marine protected areas undermine transparency,” stated Andre Standing, FiTI’s Technical Advisor and researcher for the report.
To address these challenges, FiTI recommends that Viet Nam’s forthcoming national marine spatial plan serve as a foundation for establishing coherent and unified objectives.
International Efforts and Future Recommendations
Over the past five years, international organisations have collaborated with Viet Nam to improve transparency in its fisheries sector. In 2019, a World Bank programme developed VNFishbase, a statistical dashboard for fisheries data, but it has yet to be made publicly accessible. Reports submitted to global organisations, such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), also display significant inconsistencies.
In 2024, the World Bank pledged additional support to Viet Nam’s fisheries sector. FiTI recommends that the government and its international partners prioritise making VNFishbase publicly accessible and integrate data from the upcoming 2025 Rural, Agriculture, and Fishery census into public reports.
“Releasing VNFishbase will improve public understanding of the sector and demonstrate progress in transparency,” added Standing.
Lessons from the EU’s Yellow Card
Efforts to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing have intensified since the European Commission issued Viet Nam a “yellow card” in 2017, a formal warning for the country to do more to combat IUU fishing. Collaborative actions between the Vietnamese government and European officials have strengthened law enforcement and improved data collection on fishing activities and trade.
While the DOF has published extensive datasets on vessel inspections, the information’s format and complexity limit its utility for public understanding. Additionally, the confidentiality of the EU-Viet Nam action plan highlights the broader need for transparency in tackling IUU fishing, making Viet Nam a compelling case study for intergovernmental cooperation.
A Call for Enhanced Transparency
Viet Nam’s review as part of the TAKING STOCK assessment highlights the critical role of transparency in sustainable fisheries management and international cooperation. The TAKING STOCK assessment underscores the need for clear communication, accessible data, and consistent policy frameworks to ensure the effective governance of marine resources.
The assessment reports, funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, are available for download as a Summary Assessment Report as well as a complementary, in-depth Detailed Assessment Report here:
