Review and Inspection of IUU Fishing Prevention Efforts in HCMC
	Prime Minister Calls for Faster, Stronger Action in the Fight Against IUU Fishing

A reporter from Gia Lai Newspaper and Radio and Television conducted an interview with Nguyen Huu Nghia, Head of the Sub-Department of Fisheries (Department of Agriculture and Environment), on the impacts of implementing this decree on the fisheries sector.

How do you assess the impact of the sharp increase in penalties under the new decree on the management and control of fishing activities in the province?

Decree No. 301/2025/ND-CP amending and supplementing Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP, issued and effective from 17 November 2025, is an important step in completing the legal framework for fisheries, clearly demonstrating the Government’s determination to tighten management, enhance deterrence, and prevent and combat IUU fishing.

The decree directly affects the entire activity chain, from harvesting and purchasing to transportation, aquaculture and seafood processing.

A notable feature of the decree is the increase in penalty levels, the addition of supplementary penalties and remedial measures, especially those related to vessel monitoring systems (VMS), fishing in the wrong areas, and the collection and trading of seafood originating from illegal fishing, in order to thoroughly address recurring violations. This contributes to strengthening discipline in fleet management, particularly for offshore fishing vessels.

Strict sanctions are a necessary solution to restore order and ensure that fishing activities comply with legal regulations. (Photo: N.N)

The sharp increase in penalties by vessel group and specific acts provides a solid legal basis for local authorities to control fishing grounds, ensure transparency of output, and enable traceability.

At the same time, strict sanctions for the collection and trading of illegal seafood help prevent the legalization of products derived from illegal fishing.

The decree also expands its scope to include broodstock, aquaculture and seafood processing, thereby enhancing the responsibilities of organizations and individuals participating in the production chain.

For serious violations, especially illegal fishing in foreign waters or the removal of VMS equipment without supervision as prescribed; and the illegal storage and transport of VMS equipment of other fishing vessels, penalties are significantly increased and criminal prosecution may be considered.

For Gia Lai province, Decree No. 301/2025/ND-CP is an important legal tool to tighten fleet management, raise fishermen’s awareness of law compliance, create clear changes in efforts to combat IUU fishing, and move toward sustainable fisheries development.

What plans does the Sub-Department of Fisheries have to synchronously implement all stages, from communication to inspection and supervision, to help fishermen correctly understand and comply with the new regulations?

The Department of Agriculture and Environment has directed the Sub-Department of Fisheries to develop a comprehensive implementation plan covering communication, inspection, supervision, and support for remedying violations.

Accordingly, communication work is being intensified in depth; communication materials are compiled in a concise and easy-to-understand manner; and information dissemination is carried out flexibly, directly at fishing ports and landing sites, through loudspeakers, social media, and Zalo groups.

Along with this, supervision and inspection are being tightened. The fishing vessel monitoring center maintains 24/7 operations to promptly detect cases of vessels losing connection or showing abnormal movement routes; at the same time, inspections and close supervision are strengthened regarding fishing licenses, logbooks, catch reports, catch volume monitoring, as well as vessel departures from and arrivals at ports.

The Sub-Department of Fisheries also strengthens inter-agency coordination with the Border Guard, the Police, and the People’s Committees of coastal communes and wards in verifying and handling violations under the new authority, ensuring transparency, timeliness, and compliance with regulations.

In addition, the Sub-Department proactively coordinates with functional units to support fishermen in remedying violations; provides specific guidance on restoring VMS signals, completing dossiers and data, and repairing equipment, thereby limiting repeat offenses and enhancing the level of legal compliance.

Which new points in Decree No. 301/2025/ND-CP are expected to create a stronger breakthrough in efforts to prevent and combat IUU fishing?

Many new points in Decree No. 301/2025/ND-CP focus on addressing shortcomings pointed out by the European Commission (EC). Notably, the decree stipulates penalties for both vessel owners and captains for failure to report as required in cases where vessels lose VMS connectivity, thereby increasing owners’ responsibilities and limiting deliberate evasion of supervision.

The responsibilities for receiving and handling violations of the detecting authority and the locality where the vessel docks are clearly defined, helping to overcome overlaps and “gaps” in coordination, thereby improving enforcement effectiveness.

At the same time, the decree expands the scope of acts subject to severe penalties, focusing on organized violations such as brokering and organizing fishing vessels to illegally operate in foreign waters; interfering with or falsifying VMS signals; and vessels losing VMS connectivity multiple times during the same fishing trip.

Thank you very much!

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