Prime Minister requests drastic fight against IUU fishing

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to immediately deploy the Inter-sectoral Coordination Regulation on combating IUU fishing.

On the afternoon of November 11, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 21st meeting of the National Steering Committee on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, held online with 21 coastal provinces and cities.

The Prime Minister requested a strong month to fight IUU fishing. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.

8/22 localities have handled violations

During the past week (from November 4 to 11), ministries, sectors and coastal localities across the country have synchronously deployed many measures, achieving positive results in the fight against IUU fishing. Ministries, sectors and localities have completed 31/66 tasks, accordingly, they have established specialized working groups to patrol, control and handle fishing vessels violating foreign waters to prevent fishing vessels from violating; and strengthened border guards to carry out the task of controlling fishing vessels.

Implement interconnection and synchronization between the Ministry of National Defense's control database and the aquatic product traceability system. The Ministry of Public Security has chaired a delegation to inspect difficulties in the process of handling administrative violations; local police have accelerated the review and investigation of IUU fishing vessels, especially fishing vessels that violate the border.

Ministries and sectors coordinate with 21 coastal localities to conduct a comprehensive inspection of fishing vessels to supplement and complete the VNeID database. At the same time, investigate and handle organizations and individuals involved in the act of legalizing documents.

The management of fishing vessels and monitoring of fishing activities continued to make remarkable progress, basically completing the registration and updating on the national fisheries database, reaching 99.9%, out of a total of nearly 80 thousand fishing vessels. The number of fishing vessels not qualified for operation continued to decrease, localities have classified and compiled a list of fishing vessels not qualified for registration, not qualified for granting fishing licenses and assigned local authorities and functional forces to monitor, manage, and ensure that they do not participate in fishing activities.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien reports at the meeting. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.

The situation of handling violations of the law in IUU fishing continues to have positive changes. To date, 8/22 localities have completed handling the remaining administrative violations of VMS connection loss and over-boundary exploitation. The Ministry of Public Security has initiated 2 new criminal cases, 2 defendants; bringing the total number of cases prosecuted from October 1 to November 7, 2025 to 23 cases/31 defendants (accumulated from 2024 to November 7, 2025, 88 criminal cases were prosecuted, 132 defendants were prosecuted; 44 cases, 90 defendants were brought to trial).

Immediately put an end to "fishing at all costs"

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the ministries, branches, agencies, especially the Army, the Police, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and localities for continuing to resolutely and drastically declare war on IUU fishing and determined to remove the "yellow card" of the European Commission (EC) in 2025; the results of the following week were higher than the previous week. In particular, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense basically completed the assigned tasks on time and on schedule.

The Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to thoroughly inform officials and Party members about the Prime Minister's viewpoints and guiding ideology in resolutely declaring war on violations of regulations on IUU fishing, determined to remove the EC's "yellow card" for Vietnam's fisheries by 2025.

Along with that, seriously implement resolutions, conclusions, telegrams, and directives of the Party, the Government, and the Prime Minister, especially Decision No. 2310/QD-TTg dated October 17, 2025 on the action plan for the peak month to combat IUU fishing and sustainably develop Vietnam's fisheries industry; Inter-sectoral coordination regulations on combating IUU fishing (Decision 2446/QD-TTg dated November 5, 2025).

Urgently and seriously update all data to fisheries databases such as: National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), Handling of administrative violations in the fisheries sector; VMS fishing vessel monitoring system; Fisheries administrative violation handling system, Seafood origin tracing system (eCDT); ensure "correct - sufficient - clean - alive" data, unified to manage fisheries in a systematic, timely and smooth manner.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the 21st meeting of the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to immediately deploy the Inter-sectoral Coordination Regulation on combating IUU fishing. Preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to immediately complete the scenario and technical working plan with the EC. Inspect and guide all localities to carefully prepare the working content with the 5th EC Inspection Team. Regularly maintain contact, exchange and provide full information to the EC.

In addition, preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction to strictly control aquatic raw materials imported into Vietnam under the PSMA Agreement and by container ships, ensuring to thoroughly prevent IUU-exploited aquatic raw materials from entering the Vietnamese market. Resolutely handle the completion of origin tracing dossiers and national fisheries data, publicly announce them on mass media, and complete before November 15.

The Ministry of National Defense shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, ministries, branches, and 21 coastal localities to immediately deploy the Inter-sectoral Coordination Regulation on combating IUU fishing. The Ministry of Public Security shall complete and put into use the application for managing fishing vessels and fishermen participating in activities on VneID, to be completed before November 15, 2025. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall continue to promote negotiations to sign cooperation agreements on marine fishing and unify the mechanism for controlling fishing activities of Vietnamese fishing vessels.

The Prime Minister also directed coastal provinces and cities with fishing vessels to grasp the situation, focus on leading and directing drastic, comprehensive and effective measures to combat IUU fishing in the area, absolutely not allowing violations and negativity to affect the common efforts of the whole country. Maintain strict control of all fishing vessels entering and leaving ports according to regulations; resolutely not allowing unqualified or unregistered fishing vessels to participate in activities. At the same time, update weekly the list of fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing according to regulations.

In particular, localities that have not completed handling the backlog of administrative violations of VMS connection loss and over-exploitation boundaries must urgently complete them before November 16, 2025; clearly review the responsibilities of collectives, individuals, and heads of agencies and units if they have not completed them. Urgently complete the 19 tasks being implemented. Urgently and seriously update all data to fisheries databases. Strictly punish all fishing vessels that violate VMS regulations, over-exploit boundaries, violate foreign waters, and fishing vessels that do not enter ports to unload products according to regulations.

Associations and enterprises strictly comply with not purchasing, processing, or exporting aquatic products originating from IUU fishing. Mobilize and commend exemplary members and fishermen who properly implement regulations against IUU fishing. Proactively coordinate closely with competent authorities in investigating, verifying, and strictly and thoroughly handling organizations, individuals, and aquatic enterprises that conduct illegal business, assist, or condone IUU behavior.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/thu-tuong-yeu-cau-quyet-liet-chong-khai-thac-iuu-d783793.html