Stepping Up Practical Measures To Lift IUU “Yellow Card” through Fisheries Digitalization
	Joint Efforts Launched to Raise Awareness of IUU Fishing Prevention in Quang Tri

At the meeting, delegates focused on reviewing and assessing the implementation of tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing as directed by the Government and the Steering Committee. The Prime Minister emphasized that the fight against IUU fishing is a key political task that is both urgent and long-term, aimed at achieving a “dual objective”: the early removal of the European Commission’s (EC) “yellow card” warning and the restructuring of the fisheries sector toward sustainable, lawful, and transparent development; a strong shift from capture fishing to aquaculture and processing; and enhanced international cooperation.

According to reports at the meeting, over the past week, ministries, sectors, and localities continued to seriously implement their assigned tasks and achieved a number of specific results. To date, 100% of fishing vessels nationwide (79,231 out of 79,231 vessels) have been registered and updated in the Vnfishbase system. Efforts to ensure seafood traceability have been actively carried out for both domestically caught products and imported seafood. During the week, there were no cases of Vietnamese fishing vessels violating foreign waters and being detained.

Notably, regarding swordfish shipments in violation as flagged by the EC, the Khanh Hoa provincial police have initiated criminal proceedings against T&H Nha Trang Co., Ltd. and Thinh Hung Co., Ltd. Information and communication efforts highlighting Vietnam’s determination to combat IUU fishing have continued to be strengthened. However, the Prime Minister also pointed out that many tasks have yet to meet the required standards and timelines.

The 26th meeting of the National Steering Committee for the Prevention of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. (Photo: VGP)

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh demanded that all agencies and stakeholders within the political system fully uphold their responsibilities, based on their assigned functions, tasks, and authority; urgently review and re-examine all work; act more resolutely and swiftly; and firmly declare war on IUU fishing.

The Prime Minister stressed the principle of “completing each task thoroughly,” with absolutely no formalism, buck-passing, or evasion of responsibility. Alongside commending localities and units that have performed well, he required ministers, heads of sectors, and chairpersons of People’s Committees of coastal provinces and cities to seriously rectify shortcomings and urgently complete all outstanding tasks; clarify the causes of delays; conduct reviews; and handle responsibilities in accordance with Party regulations and State law, linked to the evaluation of officials under the Politburo’s Regulation No. 366-QD/TW.

The Prime Minister assigned the Government Inspectorate to step in, individualize responsibilities in localities that have been slow or have failed to fulfill tasks in managing fishing fleets and fishermen, and required localities to strengthen the management of citizens within their jurisdictions.

He instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urgently engage and cross-check with relevant countries to unify information on Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen detained abroad; provide comprehensive lists and updates on handling and repatriation; thereby creating a basis for domestic agencies to thoroughly resolve cases and pursue accountability for networks organizing and brokering illegal fishing activities in foreign waters.

Ministries, sectors, and localities were required to urgently and seriously verify and handle cases involving violating fishing vessels and fishermen, while also reviewing and holding accountable related organizations and individuals. Regarding cases in Khanh Hoa, the Prime Minister requested other localities to continue thoroughly addressing organizations and individuals involved in issuing seafood origin confirmation (SC) and certification (CC) documents for violating shipments during the 2021-2022 period.

The Prime Minister underscored the need to strictly handle enterprises that import and consume seafood consignments in violation of IUU regulations. The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) must take responsibility and closely coordinate efforts to rectify and discipline the supply chain.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. (Photo: VGP)

The Prime Minister called on the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations to actively participate, and on localities to launch widespread movements nationwide. He also urged press agencies to step up communications efforts to build social consensus and strongly condemn violations. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism was tasked with continuing to direct media outlets to intensify information and communication activities highlighting Vietnam’s determination and efforts in combating IUU fishing.

Emphasizing that “when the tools are already in hand but the task is not accomplished, responsibility lies with the managers,” the Prime Minister required ministries, sectors, and localities to make effective use of all available legal instruments and resources, while also reviewing and promptly proposing supplements to mechanisms, equipment, and funding where necessary.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to provide unified guidance to ministries, sectors, and localities to urgently finalize the progress report to be submitted to the European Commission (EC), ensuring it is comprehensive, accurate, and supported by verifiable data; and to maintain regular communication with the EC to promptly provide information upon request.

The Ministry of National Defence was instructed to continue maintaining patrols and strict control in adjacent waters; to closely monitor fishing vessels departing from and returning to ports; and to resolutely deny departure clearance to vessels that do not meet the required conditions. The Ministry of Public Security was directed to expedite investigations and strictly handle brokerage networks and organized rings that facilitate illegal fishing by vessels and fishermen, as well as acts of falsifying documentation and committing fraud within the seafood supply chain.

People’s Committees of coastal provinces and cities were required to continue strictly enforcing regulations on registration and licensing for fishing activities; controlling “three-no” fishing vessels; closely monitoring fishing vessels entering and leaving ports and the volume of seafood landed through ports; decisively handling cases of VMS signal loss and violations of permitted fishing boundaries; and resolutely preventing the emergence of fishing vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters.

In particular, the Prime Minister required that within the next five days, the remaining 15 out of 22 provinces and cities must complete the issuance of policies on occupational transition for fishermen, to create sustainable livelihoods and reduce pressure on capture fishing.

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