The meeting was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation, with ministries, departments, and 28 coastal localities.
According to the report at the conference, the country has basically addressed the issues raised in the European Commission's (EC) recommendations from the 4th inspection in October 2023. A review and statistical analysis shows that the total number of fishing vessels nationwide is over 84,500; of which, 98.9% of registered fishing vessels have been updated on the National Fisheries Database (VN-Fishbase); 100% of fishing vessels 15 meters or longer have vessel tracking systems (VMS); 90.3% of fishing vessels 15 meters or longer have valid fishing licenses; and the problem of "three no's" (no registration, no inspection, no license) has been largely resolved. The number of fishing vessels that do not meet the requirements for fishing operations, and those at high risk of violating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing regulations, have been listed by local authorities and updated on the fishing vessel monitoring system. This information has been assigned to relevant agencies and local governments for monitoring, management, and regular updating of their mooring locations. The electronic traceability system for harvested seafood has been implemented to ensure transparency and legality in the verification, certification, and traceability of exported harvested seafood products. Inspection and control of imported harvested seafood products from abroad are carried out in full compliance with international regulations and EC recommendations.
In 2024, localities initiated criminal proceedings in 39 cases and held public trials for 10 cases involving crimes such as: organizing illegal emigration; fraud and misappropriation of property; obstructing or disrupting the operation of computer networks, telecommunication networks, and electronic devices; forging seals and documents of agencies and organizations, and falsifying records; related to the removal and sending of VMS equipment; and the illegal manufacture and use of explosives… The total amount of fines for violations against IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing was nearly 100 billion VND.
Binh Dinh branch
Along with the rest of the country, Binh Dinh province has recently implemented drastic measures to prevent and combat IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing and achieved many positive results. To date, the province has 5,988 fishing vessels with a length of 6 meters or more registered. Of these, 3,190 fishing vessels with a length of 15 meters or more participating in fishing activities have installed vessel tracking devices, reaching a rate of 100%. The province has completed the registration of fishing vessels with "three no's" (no illegal fishing, no ...
In particular, the province has strictly managed the group of fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters. A review was conducted, compiling a list of 215 fishing vessels with a length of 12 meters to under 15 meters, engaged in squid fishing, regularly operating and entering and leaving ports in the southern provinces, and not returning to the locality annually. Along with this, a cooperation agreement on fishing vessel management was signed with southern provinces (Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Thuan) and a cooperation agreement on fishing vessel management with a group of 10 central provinces (from Thanh Hoa to Khanh Hoa). In 2024, the province established 5 working groups to work with southern provinces (Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Tien Giang , Kien Giang), directly meeting with, educating, and mobilizing fishermen to avoid violating foreign waters; Simultaneously, policies were issued to support the funding for the purchase and installation of vessel tracking devices on fishing vessels with a length of 12 meters to under 15 meters operating in fishing grounds in the southern provinces. As a result, 178 out of 215 fishing vessels with a length of 12 meters to under 15 meters have installed vessel tracking devices (accounting for 83%). Since June 2024, there have been no cases of fishing vessels violating illegal fishing regulations in foreign waters.
In addition, Binh Dinh province has also strengthened inspection and control work and has detected and strictly handled 126 cases of IUU fishing violations, with fines totaling 11.493 billion VND.
In his concluding remarks at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that combating IUU fishing is a task for the entire political system; the fight against IUU fishing must be sustained over the long term, requiring many synchronized solutions and serious implementation. Central and local ministries and agencies must clearly identify the shortcomings belonging to which ministry, agency, or locality in order to promptly rectify and overcome them; they must propose fundamental, specific solutions, not general ones.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested that in the first quarter of 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development must complete the synchronous, unified, and interconnected connection from the central to local levels of the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and the Electronic Traceability System (eCDT); and at the same time, issue procedures and regulations for the management, operation, updating, exploitation, and use of fisheries management databases and the responsibilities of the parties involved.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is reviewing and proposing amendments and additions to legal regulations to reflect the reality of IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing violations; strictly handling acts related to national security and defense, infringing on national territory, and those committed intentionally; clearly defining the responsibilities of state management agencies when they fail to promptly handle or overlook violations; as well as those of establishments purchasing, processing, and exporting seafood of unclear origin... In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development needs to review and supplement the conditions for private fishing ports to provide certain administrative services such as updating voyage data and verifying the origin of harvested seafood for fishing vessels entering and leaving ports…
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and maritime law enforcement forces to actively cooperate with international forces and agencies to resolve incidents in accordance with the law.
Source: https://binhdinh.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong-cua-lanh-dao/hop-ban-chi-dao-quoc-gia-ve-chong-khai-thac-hai-san-bat-hop-phap-khong-bao-cao-va-khong-theo-quy-dinh.html
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