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The Decree is promulgated on the basis of the 2025 Law on the Organization of the Government and the 2017 Fisheries Law, as amended and supplemented by the Laws of 2024 and 2025.

According to the Decree, its scope of regulation includes detailed provisions on matters within the Government’s authority as assigned under various articles and clauses of the Fisheries Law, relating to fishing, aquaculture, protection of aquatic resources, management of fishing vessels, and control of fishing activities within and beyond Viet Nam’s maritime zones.

The new regulations on fishing control, fishing vessel voyage monitoring, IUU management, and administrative procedure reform are expected to help raise legal compliance awareness among fishers and enterprises.

The Decree provides specific regulations on observers on Vietnamese fishing vessels operating in Viet Nam’s waters; and on licensing the export of aquatic species on the list of prohibited exports or conditional exports that have not yet met the required conditions, in cases serving scientific research and international cooperation.

The Decree supplements provisions on controlling foreign vessels engaged in fishing, transportation, and transshipment of aquatic products calling at Vietnamese ports; and on controlling aquatic products and fisheries products originating from capture fisheries that are transported by container ships and imported into Vietnam, thereby strengthening the implementation of international commitments, especially in the context of Viet Nam’s efforts to have the European Commission’s IUU “yellow card” lifted.

The subjects of application of the Decree include Vietnamese and foreign organizations and individuals engaged in fisheries activities or related to fisheries activities in inland areas, islands, archipelagos, and Viet Nam’s maritime zones; and it also applies to Vietnamese organizations and individuals engaged in fishing activities outside Viet Nam’s maritime zones.

Notably, the Decree clearly explains acts constituting IUU fishing, in line with international law and the recommendations of regional fisheries management organizations. This serves as an important legal basis for competent authorities to strengthen inspection, supervision, and handling of violations in fisheries exploitation activities.

The Decree also provides specific regulations on storm shelter anchorages for fishing vessels, major fisheries centers, and vessels serving aquaculture, contributing to the improvement of fisheries infrastructure systems, ensuring the safety of fishers, and enhancing the efficiency of production and fisheries logistics services.

A highlight of the Decree is the general regulation on the implementation of administrative procedures in a simplified and facilitative manner for organizations and individuals. Accordingly, dossiers may be submitted directly at the One-Stop Service Unit, via public postal services, or online through the National Public Service Portal and the National Digital Identification Application.

The Decree allows the use of electronic dossiers and valid scanned copies, reduces the requirement to submit notarized copies, and clearly stipulates the responsibility of organizations and individuals for the legality of their dossiers. In cases of natural disasters or epidemics, competent authorities may apply online assessment methods, temporarily suspend or extend licenses and certificates, ensuring both flexibility and rigor in management.

Chapter II of the Decree is dedicated to regulations on the Fund for the Protection and Development of Aquatic Resources, clearly defining the functions, tasks, organizational structure, and operational mechanisms of the Fund at both the central and provincial levels.

Accordingly, the Fund is tasked with supporting programs, projects, and non-project activities related to the protection and development of aquatic resources that are not included in the state budget plan. The Fund’s financial resources are formed from voluntary contributions, sponsorships, and entrusted funds from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals, and are managed in accordance with regulations on off-budget financial funds.

The Fund is used for communication and education activities, ecosystem restoration, regeneration of aquatic resources, support for occupational transition and the creation of sustainable livelihoods for fishers, as well as support for the operations of provincial-level funds and community funds.

The management and use of the Fund’s finances must comply with legal regulations on budgeting and accounting, and are subject to inspection, supervision, and auditing by competent authorities.

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