Vice Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha Chairs National Steering Committee Meeting on IUU Fishing
On August 1st, Vice Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee on the situation and results of the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with online connections to coastal provinces and cities.
Vice Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chairs the National Steering Committee meeting on the situation and results of the fight against IUU fishing.
Reporting at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien stated that Vietnam has the opportunity to lift the “Yellow Card” warning from the EC if IUU prevention activities are maintained and strict handling of serious violations is continued: Intrusion into foreign waters, boundary crossing, and disconnecting administrative monitoring equipment (VMS)…
As of June 30, 2025, the number of fishing vessels nationwide registered and updated on the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase) was 81,719. Currently, 28,164 fishing vessels with a length of 15 meters or more have been installed with vessel monitoring systems (VMS), achieving 99.06% of the target.
The Vice Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to review and complete legal documents, especially the amendment of three decrees on policies to support offshore fishing and administrative sanctions.
The laws and decrees must be strong and clear, with thorough decentralization to local authorities in vessel management, port inspection, and violation handling.
“We must expand the scope of legal accountability to include processing and trading enterprises. Sanctions should be transparent, timely, and clearly delegated to avoid shirking of responsibility,” emphasized the Vice Prime Minister.
Combating IUU Fishing with Vigorous Solutions
The Vice Prime Minister instructed the ministries and sectors to review all procedures, establish responsibilities and authority, and implement a mechanism for post-inspection. “There must be clear directives within the scope of authority, which are strictly followed by the forces, avoiding a situation where ‘no one can be held accountable for mistakes’. We must change the mindset that issuing many documents is equivalent to fulfilling tasks.”
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Public Security should coordinate to develop regulations mandating the installation of in-trip cameras on fishing vessels, especially for transshipment and offshore fishing activities. “All activities of fishing vessels must be monitored from the time they leave the port, including their journey, catch, and arrival at the port.”
The Vice Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of National Defense to combine national defense tasks with the assigned task of supervising fishing activities in the border sea areas, where IUU violations frequently occur. The Coast Guard, Border Guard, and Fisheries Resources Surveillance forces must coordinate with local authorities, unify the focal points, and take specific responsibilities to end the situation of “violations occur but it is unclear who will handle them” through a clear command and coordination mechanism.
The Ultimate Road Revolution: Achieving 3,000 km of Highways by 2025
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged ministries, sectors, and localities to accelerate, break through, and be more daring in their efforts to complete the construction of 3,000 kilometers of expressways by the end of this year.
The Prime Minister’s Urgent Directive to Three Ministries: A Critical Timeline for the $16 Billion Mega-Project
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that this is the largest airport project in the country and is of utmost importance. He stressed the need to expedite the project, underlining its significance.
The Long Thanh Airport Component 4 Project: Delays Risk Significant Waste
The delay in the implementation of Component 4 will have a significant impact on the Long Thanh Airport development plan, posing a high risk of substantial waste.
Determined to Remove the EC’s “IUU Yellow Card”
On November 15, in the city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province, the Fisheries Surveillance Department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, chaired a meeting in collaboration with relevant ministries and sectors. The event aimed to provide technical guidance on combatting IUU fishing and prepare for the 5th working session with the EC for 28 coastal provinces and cities.
The Battle Against Unregulated Fishing: Cracking Down on the “Three Nos” of Thanh Hoa’s Fishing Fleet
In recent times, authorities in Thanh Hoa province have stepped up their patrols and inspections of the sea, river mouths, beaches, and fishing ports. They have been steadfast in their decision to not allow fishing vessels to operate without the necessary procedures, paperwork, and equipment as stipulated by regulations. Vessels that violate the IUU fishing regulations will be dealt with accordingly.
