For the future, the long-term interests of fishermen.

(PLVN) - It is expected that at the end of November 2025, a delegation from the European Commission (EC) will visit Vietnam to work on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and consider lifting the "yellow card" imposed on Vietnamese seafood. After many years of the entire political system's resolute efforts to combat IUU fishing, the final outcome is nearing completion.

At the recent 21st meeting of the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing, reports indicated that the management of fishing vessels and monitoring of fishing activities continued to make significant progress. Registration and updating of the national fisheries database was basically completed, reaching 99.9% of nearly 80,000 fishing vessels. The number of fishing vessels that did not meet operating requirements continued to decrease; localities have completed the classification and compilation of lists for local authorities and relevant agencies to monitor and manage, ensuring they do not participate in fishing activities.

One noteworthy factor is the continued positive progress in handling violations of the law in combating IUU fishing. Eight out of 22 localities have resolved outstanding administrative violations related to disconnected vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and exceeding permitted fishing boundaries. The police have initiated two new cases involving two defendants, bringing the total number of cases prosecuted from October 1st to November 7th, 2025 to 23 cases/31 defendants. Thus, from 2024 to November 7th, 2025, the prosecuting authorities have initiated 88 cases involving 132 defendants; and brought 44 cases involving 90 defendants to trial for violations in the field of combating IUU fishing.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reiterated that combating IUU fishing is for the honor, prestige, and interests of the country and the nation, and therefore must be resolute, encompassing education , management, and ensuring long-term employment and livelihoods for fishermen. Ministries, agencies, and localities must coordinate closely and focus intensely on leading and directing the vigorous implementation of the peak month against IUU fishing; immediately ending the practice of "fishing at all costs"; building "responsible fishing" with traceability; for the sustainable development of Vietnam's fisheries sector, for the honor of the country and the nation, and for the interests of the people.

The Prime Minister emphasized that when working with the EC delegation, the spirit must be that transformation should not only be reflected in numbers or reports, but must be manifested in concrete results and substantive changes in reality.

The actions taken by authorities in recent times have demonstrated a firm stance in declaring war on violations of regulations against IUU fishing, determined to lift the EC's "yellow card" on Vietnam's fisheries by 2025. Along with the comprehensive digitalization of fishing vessel management; the completion and implementation of the VNeID application for managing fishing vessels and fishermen; and the resolute investigation and criminal prosecution of fishing vessels violating regulations according to Resolution 04/2024/NQ-HĐTP… we have affirmed that the fight against IUU fishing is not merely a formality but a substantive effort; not only to lift the EC's "yellow card," but also for the long-term interests of all fishermen and the Vietnamese fisheries sector.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/vi-tuong-lai-loi-ich-lau-dai-cua-ngu-dan.html