Why did the EC inspection team postpone the IUU inspection schedule in Vietnam?

According to the plan, in March 2025, the European Commission (EC) will visit Vietnam for the 5th inspection, which is the decisive step to remove the "Yellow Card" against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) for the domestic seafood industry. However, this working schedule was postponed to September 2025. So what is the reason?

Verification of fishing vessels losing VMS connection is not tight

At the recent online meeting of the Provincial Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing on the implementation of tasks and solutions to prevent and combat IUU fishing in the province in the first 4 months of 2025, Mr. Nguyen Van Chien - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment said that according to information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment , the EC has recognized a number of positive points and outstanding results of Vietnam in combating IUU fishing, but from the beginning of 2025 until now, the whole country still has fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters. In particular, on February 24, 2025, Thailand arrested and handled fishing vessel KG-95541-TS and about 10 other fishing vessels in this province escaped. The EC has grasped the information and is one of the main reasons why the EC has not yet come to inspect Vietnam as scheduled at the end of March 2025.

There are still cases of fishing boats illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters nationwide (Photo: N. Lan)

In Binh Thuan , the fight against IUU fishing has been focused on by all levels and sectors and has achieved many results. In particular, monitoring and preventing high-risk fishing vessels from violating foreign waters has been carried out regularly and continuously. Thanks to that, from 2023 to present, Binh Thuan has not had any cases of illegal fishing vessels. However, up to now, some tasks and works have not been highly effective, and the implementation progress is still slow compared to the requirements. The number of fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for practice is still quite large but has not been strictly controlled. Up to now, the whole province has 750 fishing vessels that have not completed the procedures for granting or re-granting fishing licenses (269 vessels sold outside the province with unidentified owners, 118 vessels on shore, damaged, 95 vessels stuck in procedures (inheritance), 268 vessels whose owners are procrastinating and refusing to do so).

Up to now, the whole province has 750 fishing boats that have not completed procedures to grant or re-grant fishing licenses.

In particular, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized: Do not let the work of reorganizing the apparatus affect the province's task of combating IUU fishing.

The verification of fishing vessels losing connection to VMS at sea is not strict, especially the monitoring records and verification of each case, especially in La Gi town, the verification rate is still low. In addition, the situation of fishing vessels violating regulations in fishing activities is still common but is slow to be detected and handled. The progress of repairing and overcoming the degradation of fishing port infrastructure and dredging channels is still quite slow compared to the requirements... According to the plan, by September 2025, the EC delegation will come to Vietnam for the 5th inspection, so there is not much time left, this is a golden opportunity to remove the IUU "Yellow Card". Therefore, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai requested the sectors, units and localities to continue to thoroughly grasp and seriously and resolutely implement the tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing according to the direction of the Central Government, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee.

Provincial Border Guard Command during the peak period of patrolling, inspecting and controlling fishing vessels operating at sea.

268 sluggish fishing boats not allowed to leave port

Accordingly, the Provincial Border Guard Command is required to continue to proactively strengthen coordination and synchronously deploy solutions to manage and control high-risk fishing vessels, promptly detect and prevent early and from a distance, and resolutely not let fishing vessels violate foreign waters. Direct the Border Guard forces to not allow fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for fishing to leave port for exploitation; coordinate with functional forces to organize peak periods of patrolling, inspecting and controlling fishing vessels operating at sea, on rivers, temporary wharves, beaches and in fishing port areas...

Check the verification and handling of fishing vessels losing VMS connection in the area.

In addition, the provincial police are required to direct and arrange for commune police to strengthen the work of grasping the situation, zoning areas and subjects to monitor, control and prevent illegal exploitation. Pay special attention to the list of 268 fishing vessels whose owners do not cooperate or refuse to register... Continue to monitor, grasp information, investigate and prosecute organizations and individuals who act as brokers, collude to bring fishing vessels to illegally exploit foreign waters and acts of sending, carrying or intentionally disabling VMS equipment to violate foreign waters.

Educate fishermen about IUU violations.

Request the Department of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate with the Provincial Border Guard Command and localities to review the list and closely monitor fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters (173 fishing vessels previously announced and reported), update new numbers if any. For cases of deliberate procrastination and failure to carry out procedures as prescribed, make a list and send it to the Provincial Border Guard Command to direct Border Control Stations/Station to strictly control and not allow departure. Guide and support the resolution of problems related to the confirmation of the origin of exploited aquatic products for businesses, promote production and export in the province. At the same time, coordinate with the Inspection Teams of the Interdisciplinary Working Group to promptly report the results of the inspection of the verification and handling of fishing vessels losing VMS connection in the area. Thereby, propose specific handling directions to ensure strictness.

In addition, the Department of Fisheries and Seas and Islands needs to strengthen the management of fishing vessels, increase the rate of fishing vessels that are inspected, licensed for fishing, and fully update information into the National Fisheries Database (VNfishbase) and the Fishing Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to ensure timeliness, synchronization, and accuracy. Direct the Fisheries Surveillance force to further strengthen patrols and control of fishing vessels operating at sea, especially at fishing ports, to strictly handle violations of regulations on IUU fishing.

The Provincial Fishing Port Management Board continues to strictly carry out the work of counting fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, monitoring the output at the port, collecting fishing logs and tracing the origin of aquatic products according to regulations. Urgently complete the procedures to dredge La Gi estuary and repair and restore fishing port infrastructure, serve production, and combat IUU fishing...

Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is actively advising the Prime Minister to issue a new directive to further strengthen the legal basis and create a combined strength for Vietnam to welcome and work with the EC Inspection Delegation - a key step towards the goal of removing the "Yellow Card" in 2025 in a substantial and sustainable manner.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/tai-sao-doan-thanh-tra-ec-doi-lich-kiem-tra-iuu-tai-viet-nam-129829.html