An Giang Steps Up IUU Crackdown, Pursues Violating Fishing Vessels to the End
	Enterprises Violating IUU Regulations to Be Expelled from VASEP

Strengthening fishing vessel management, ensuring accurate and interconnected data

According to the Government Online Newspaper, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien noted that the report reflects the strong political commitment and determined efforts of the entire political system; ensures that data are accurate, consistent, verifiable, non-formalistic, and not driven by achievements; and fully incorporates opinions from ministries, sectors, localities, experts, as well as the Ambassador and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the European Union.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha delivered concluding remarks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

Regarding the draft Directive of the Prime Minister on focusing leadership and providing resolute, comprehensive, and effective direction for tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is incorporating the instructions of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to review and fully update data on violating vessels, port entry and exit, control of harvested aquatic materials, and traceability of fishing vessel activities throughout the entire chain. The contents to be included in the Directive are intended to ensure the firm prevention of violations and strict handling of IUU fishing activities; the reorganization of production; and increased support for livelihood transformation so that fishermen can confidently pursue lawful fishing, stabilize their lives, and promote the sustainable, responsible, and internationally integrated development of the fisheries sector.

With regard to regulations on the installation of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) equipment, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien stated that the Ministry proposes allowing the installation of up to two VMS devices on a single fishing vessel in order to avoid signal loss while vessels are operating at sea; reduce losses for fishermen during offshore operations; and enable competent authorities to more easily detect violations by fishing vessels at sea. At the same time, the Ministry proposes amendments to tighten management of the installation, removal, and replacement of VMS devices; clarify the responsibilities of vessel owners, local management authorities, and equipment providers; and establish management software whereby, if the primary device loses signal, the secondary device will automatically operate.

Regarding the management of logistics service vessels and vessels engaged in purchasing and trading seafood at sea, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has issued documents requesting localities to review and provide detailed reports on operational status, and requiring logistics service vessels to strictly comply with regulations on reporting port entry and exit, recording and submitting transshipment and purchase logs in accordance with regulations, and not to purchase aquatic products from vessels that violate IUU fishing regulations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has coordinated with ministries, sectors, localities, and relevant agencies to complete data systems, including: licensing and registration through the National Fisheries Data Management System (VnFishbase); electronic fishing logbooks (e-logbook); the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT); the vessel monitoring system (VMS); and the administrative violation handling system in the fisheries sector.

The Ministry has now provided user accounts to local authorities and competent forces for inspection and cross-checking, enabling the timely detection of discrepancies and requiring updates, supplementation, corrections, and standardization of data in accordance with regulations.

As of December 31, 2025, 11 out of 22 localities have issued policies on occupational transition in fisheries exploitation.

Electronic fishing logbooks ready for deployment

At the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), and the Military Industry and Telecommunications Group (Viettel) reported that the software system for transitioning to electronic fishing logbooks and the National Fisheries Database (VnFishbase) is ready.

The fisheries database has been used as the primary data source for applications related to berth entry and exit, port entry and exit, and traceability. However, to ensure data are “accurate, sufficient, clean, and live,” it is necessary to review and synchronize data between central and local levels, while localities bear responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of fishing vessel data.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment immediately issue a circular guiding the transition to electronic fishing logbooks within January 2026. In the interim, fishing vessels will be allowed to maintain both paper and electronic logbooks concurrently; after 45 days, the use of electronic logbooks will be mandatory, and failure to comply will be considered a violation of fishing activity reporting requirements.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested that ministries, sectors, and localities continue to update data, clearly reflect progress and new results, clarify management responsibilities for vessels whose registrations have been revoked or canceled, and finalize legal and technical guidance to operate a unified electronic control system.

For seafood processing and exporting enterprises targeting the European market, the Deputy Prime Minister required self-declaration, self-review, and self-remediation; cases of dishonesty will be subject to strict handling during inspections and examinations.

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