Thanh Hoa Completes All 19 Tasks on Combating IUU Fishing
	Quang Tri Establishes Two Inter-agency Control Teams to Combat IUU Fishing at Sea

According to reports, in 2025 alone, FIP Vung Tau recorded a number of notable achievements, with total sustainable raw fish output reaching approximately 120,000 tons per year, of which 25,000 tons were strictly controlled in accordance with FIP Vung Tau standards. Several enterprises participating in the project have obtained important international certifications, such as the ASC Feed Standard under the mass balance model, and have joined the MarinTrust Improver Programme. These achievements affirm their capacity to meet requirements related to traceability, transparency, and responsibility in seafood harvesting and production.

The FIP model is suited to trawl fisheries, a sector facing significant pressure in the fight against IUU fishing

According to assessments by the Vietnam Fisheries Society, the initial results achieved by FIP Vung Tau have created momentum for fisheries nationwide in efforts to combat IUU fishing. The value chain linkage model connecting fishers and enterprises has contributed to strengthening the image of Vietnam’s seafood industry as responsible and transparent, in line with international practices, especially in the context that Vietnam’s capture fisheries remain subject to the European Commission’s (EC) “yellow card.” Standards such as MarinTrust are regarded as important tools enabling Vietnam’s fishmeal and fish oil sector to overcome IUU-related barriers, enhance credibility, and expand access to major markets such as the EU and the United States.

To achieve these outcomes, FIP Vung Tau has implemented a wide range of coordinated solutions throughout the project’s implementation. These include organizing training courses on the 2017 Fisheries Law, collecting and sharing multi-species fisheries data, and disseminating MarinTrust standard requirements to member enterprises. As a result, FIP Vung Tau has been recognized by MarinTrust as a “Pilot Multi-Species Fishery Improvement Project” and assessed by the global FIP programme as a model demonstrating positive progress and effectiveness.

The raw material control process has been designed to strictly comply with IUU regulations and meet MarinTrust standards. Participating fishing vessels are required to fully comply with legal regulations and sign commitments to adhere to the Code of Responsible Fisheries issued by the FIP. Monitoring is conducted continuously from fishing vessels and fishing ports to processing plants, supported by a chain-based traceability system that ensures transparency and traceability at every stage.

According to Nguyen Thanh Loc, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fisheries Association, the overarching goal of FIP Vung Tau is to improve trawl fishing activities toward sustainability and responsibility; ensure compliance with IUU fishing regulations; implement the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; protect rare aquatic species; and ensure social responsibility in fisheries. This serves as a foundation enabling fishmeal and fish oil enterprises to qualify for participation in international improvement programmes and certification schemes.

In terms of financial resources, the total budget for the 2025-2035 phase of the project amounts to USD 610,000. Of this, the business community contributes USD 470,000, state programmes provide USD 102,000, and participating fishing vessels contribute USD 38,000, demonstrating strong commitment from both the public and private sectors to promoting sustainable fisheries development.

FIP Vung Tau was initiated in November 2015 by the Fishmeal and Fish Oil Processing Sub-Association of Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province (now under Ho Chi Minh City). Since June 2020, the project has been officially registered with FisheryProgress under the name “Pre-Assessment FIP for the Multi-Species Trawl Fishery in Ba Ria-Vung Tau,” with an implementation roadmap extending to 2035 and the participation of multiple stakeholders across the seafood value chain.

In the coming period, FIP Vung Tau aims to have two to three processing plants achieve MarinTrust IP Version 3.0 certification; increase the volume of raw fish participating in the FIP by two to three times; expand the management linkage area to neighboring southern localities; strengthen control of raw materials at key fishing ports; and move toward developing internationally recognized “green label” products.

According to Dinh Xuan Lap, Deputy Director of the International Collaboration Center for Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries (ICAFIS), FIP Vung Tau is clear evidence of the public-private partnership model that Vietnam’s fisheries sector has envisioned since 2015 and which has now demonstrated tangible practical effectiveness. “This is a model that should be replicated, not only in fisheries but also in other sectors,” he said.

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