Hue Plans to Allocate 16 Billion VND to Support Decommissioning of Over 100 Fishing Vessels That Do Not Meet Operational Requirements
	Ninh Binh Intensifies Efforts Against IUU Fishing, Ready for the EC’s Fifth Inspection

On the evening of December 9, speaking at the 25th Meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested ministries, sectors, and localities to achieve the dual objectives of combating IUU fishing and developing a sustainable fisheries sector, ensuring the prestige, honor, and interests of the country, the nation, and the people.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the 25th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

The meeting was held online from the Government Headquarters and connected to 21 coastal provinces and cities. Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and leaders of ministries, central agencies, and coastal localities.

Under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, the Steering Committee reviewed the current status of combating IUU fishing, especially the contents recommended by the European Commission (EC); prepared reports in line with EC recommendations; and discussed Viet Nam’s fisheries cooperation with countries in the region. In particular, the meeting focused on implementing tasks and solutions for sustainable fisheries development for the benefit of the nation and fishermen.

According to the Steering Committee, over the past week, ministries and sectors continued to send inter-sectoral inspection teams to localities to check compliance with anti-IUU regulations. The complete digitalization of databases for fisheries vessel management has been completed, ensuring interconnected, integrated, multi-purpose usage that meets the criteria of accuracy, completeness, cleanliness, and real-time operation.

Databases related to vessel information and monitoring and controlling vessel operations at sea via Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) have been governed by regulations for use and operation. Relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals have been granted accounts according to regulations.

Functional forces strictly controlled vessels entering and leaving ports; ensured that vessels that do not meet the required conditions are not allowed to operate; implemented coordination regulations among agencies for vessel inspection and control; monitored the unloading of aquatic products at ports in accordance with regulations; and continued to issue policies on job transition and vessel decommissioning.

A total of 79,180 fishing vessels nationwide have been registered and updated in the Vnfishbase system, reaching 100 percent. During the week, authorities inspected and controlled 2,901 vessel departures and 2,708 vessel arrivals as required, and monitored 1,845 tons of harvested aquatic products unloaded at ports via the eCDT system. Violations by fishing vessels in previous periods have been strictly handled.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the need for “high determination, great effort, decisive action, handling each task thoroughly and completely”; and for achieving the dual goal of ending IUU violations while restructuring and developing a sustainable fisheries sector. This includes reorganizing the fleet and labor force toward legal fishing practices, strengthening fisheries cooperation with other countries, promoting aquaculture, reducing capture fishing, and ensuring livelihoods and the well-being of the people.

The Prime Minister requested ministries, sectors, and localities to review all issues raised by the EC; ensure that reported data is accurate and complete; and summarize which tasks have been well implemented and should be maintained, which tasks remain inadequate or challenging, and the necessary next steps.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested ministries and sectors to coordinate in preparing accurate, complete, and comprehensive reports that meet EC requirements, and to work directly and sincerely with the EC to reconcile information and data in order to provide a holistic, accurate understanding of Viet Nam’s efforts in combating IUU fishing.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the 25th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

He emphasized that ministries, sectors, and especially localities must consider combating IUU fishing as an important, urgent task; focus on implementing solutions; and resolutely end IUU fishing violations this year. He called on the public to participate for their own benefit, and urged associations to join the effort, especially in verifying product origin.

The Prime Minister also demanded that ministries, sectors, and agencies continue to strictly implement all conclusions, directives, and telegrams from the Party Secretariat, the Government, and the Prime Minister regarding combating IUU fishing. He reminded that any locality that fails to grasp the situation or manage its fishing fleet must be held accountable collectively and individually and face disciplinary actions in accordance with Party regulations and State law.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, to develop an outline and guidelines, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities in formulating a Scheme for Sustainable Fisheries Development, including capture fishing, aquaculture, and processing.

The Ministry of National Defense, in coordination with localities, is to continue effectively implementing inter-sectoral coordination regulations on combating IUU fishing; conduct enhanced patrols in waters bordering Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand; control vessel departures and arrivals, strictly handle vessels that do not meet operational conditions; and guide vessel owners and captains in completing vessel and crew entry/exit procedures on VNeID.

The Ministry of Public Security is to direct local police to completely resolve cases of vessels and fishermen detained abroad, and dismantle networks facilitating illegal fishing operations overseas; and to investigate and strictly handle organizations and individuals involved in legal violations related to shipments of swordfish exported to the European market by enterprises in Khanh Hoa during 2021–2022.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to urgently work with countries to reconcile information on the number of Vietnamese vessels and fishermen detained abroad from 2024 to the present; and provide a list of cases of detention and repatriation since 2024 for timely resolution of pending incidents and dismantling of broker networks sending vessels and fishermen to fish illegally abroad.

The People’s Committees of coastal provinces and cities must proactively monitor the situation and lead strong, comprehensive, and effective implementation of anti-IUU measures, ensuring no violations that could undermine national efforts to lift the EC’s “yellow card.” They must impose administrative and criminal penalties on violating vessels; maintain strict control of all vessel arrivals and departures at ports; and resolutely prohibit unqualified or unregistered vessels from operating.

Localities must update weekly lists of vessels at high risk of IUU violations; frequently update information in fisheries sector databases to ensure accuracy, completeness, cleanliness, and real-time operation; ensure data consistency among relevant agencies and forces; and evaluate the operation of the VnFishbase software.

Associations and enterprises must strictly comply with the ban on purchasing, processing, or exporting aquatic products sourced from IUU fishing; and closely coordinate with authorities in investigating and strictly handling organizations, individuals, and enterprises involved in illegal practices that facilitate or tolerate IUU activities.

Media agencies must continue raising public awareness, reflecting the efforts and results of localities in combating IUU fishing, and criticizing deliberate violations that harm Viet Nam’s reputation and the sustainable development of the fisheries sector. The Government Inspectorate must conduct inspections and strictly handle violations related to IUU fishing.

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