Prime Minister Orders Decisive Action on IUU Violations, Readiness for EC Inspection

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According to the VGP, at the meeting, the Prime Minister again emphasized that leaders of ministries, sectors and localities must be directly and fully accountable to the Government and the Prime Minister if fishing vessel violations reoccur or if progress in removing the IUU “yellow card” is delayed.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the 23rd online meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing. (Photo: VPG)

He requested strict compliance with periodic reporting on IUU prevention results to the Steering Committee (summary reports before 10:00 every Monday, monthly reports on the 15th of each month, and ad-hoc reports through the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Standing Agency of the Steering Committee). He also instructed a preliminary review of the implementation of the peak month against IUU fishing.

All fisheries data must be fully updated to national systems, including: the national fisheries database (Vnfishbase); the system for handling administrative violations in fisheries; the vessel monitoring system (VMS); the administrative violation processing system in the fisheries sector; and the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT).

The Prime Minister requested that all ministries, sectors and localities remain ready to receive the EC inspection mission and provide complete, consistent and synchronized information.

He tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment with coordinating ministries, sectors and coastal localities to comprehensively assess the implementation of the action plan for the peak month against IUU fishing and for the sustainable development of Viet Nam’s fisheries sector. The Ministry must also coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to effectively implement the interagency coordination regulation on combating IUU fishing.

The ministry must continue working with other ministries and agencies to inspect and guide all coastal localities and fishing vessel owners in preparing thoroughly for the fifth EC inspection. It must also finalize the negotiation and working plan with the EC inspection team and report progress on IUU prevention.

The ministry must proactively contact the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the EC to clarify and provide necessary information for the inspection; maintain regular contact and communication with the EC; and report issues beyond its authority to the Government and the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister ordered the completion of traceability documentation, national fisheries data, and public disclosure in the media as previously instructed, with a deadline of November 30, 2025.

He instructed relevant agencies to urgently review and incorporate feedback from Government members to complete amendments to Decree 37, to be submitted and issued on November 26.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, together with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction, must strictly control imported seafood materials entering Viet Nam under the PSMA Agreement and via container ships, ensuring that IUU-sourced seafood is prevented from entering the Viet Nam market.

The Ministry of National Defense must effectively implement the interagency IUU coordination regulation, intensify patrols in waters adjacent to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, control vessel departures and arrivals, and strictly handle vessels that do not meet operational requirements.

The Ministry of Public Security must continue directing its agencies to accelerate investigations, strengthen case files and prosecute violations already initiated. It must also improve features of the vessel entry–exit management system on the VNeID platform to support vessel and crew monitoring.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must urgently verify information on fishing vessels detained abroad whose registration numbers and crew details are unclear, as requested by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. It must also collect and compile full data on fishermen involved in IUU fishing in foreign waters who have been repatriated, so competent authorities can process them according to law.

The Prime Minister instructed the People’s Committees of coastal provinces and cities with fishing fleets to closely monitor the situation and lead strict, comprehensive and effective implementation of IUU prevention measures, ensuring no violations or negative practices that could undermine efforts to remove the EC “yellow card”.

Localities must strictly control all vessels entering and leaving ports, refusing permission for vessels without proper registration or conditions to operate. They must update weekly lists of vessels at high risk of IUU violations.

They must closely monitor vessels at sea 24/24 via VMS, issue timely warnings, and contact vessel owners and captains to prevent VMS disconnections and unauthorized boundary crossings.

Localities must urgently finalize the handling of cases involving Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen detained abroad in 2024 and 2025 where registration information is already available, with a deadline of November 30, 2025. They must also urgently issue livelihood transition policies for fishermen by November 30, 2025. They are responsible for any cases where administrative penalties are not imposed for VMS disconnections.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism must continue directing media agencies to strengthen coverage of Viet Nam’s IUU prevention efforts, especially on foreign-language channels, and respond promptly to false and hostile narratives targeting the directives of the Party, Government and Prime Minister.

Industry associations and businesses must strictly comply with regulations prohibiting the purchase, processing or export of seafood derived from IUU fishing. They must cooperate closely with competent authorities in investigating and strictly handling illegal operators and businesses that enable or tolerate IUU activities.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to prepare a report for the EC, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a Deputy Minister to discuss and engage with the EC this week.

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