Viet Nam launches month-long campaign against IUU fishing
VGP - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed ministries, sectors, and localities to implement a month-long campaign to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and promote the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued Official Telegram No. 198/CD-TTg, requesting ministries, agencies and coastal localities to double efforts lift "yellow card" warning imposed by the European Commission (EC) on Vietnamese seafood exports.
The Prime Minister emphasized that combating IUU fishing is a critical, urgent, and top-priority task to protect Viet Nam's international reputation and the livelihoods of law-abiding fishermen.
Under the Official Telegram, the Minister of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) is tasked with finalizing updates to administrative penalties in the fisheries sector by October 25 and accelerating the rollout of the electronic catch documentation and traceability (eCDT) system by November 15.
The MAE must also establish communication channels with regional fisheries organizations and licensing authorities to verify vessel management, licences, and transshipment data by October 30. Additionally, the ministry is required to allocate sufficient resources to inspect documentation and monitor seafood imports at seaports, processing facilities, and export locations, while ensuring access to international databases for cross-verification.
The MAE shall have to work closely with the Ministry of National Defense to integrate and synchronize data on vessel tracking and administrative penalties. The defense ministry is responsible for implementing a national control system for operating fishing vessels by October 30, deploying a VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) disconnection alert and e-logbook system, and enabling automatic position reporting when VMS connections are lost.
The Ministry of National Defense will also direct the Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) to develop these systems, as well as coordinate patrols and inspections in maritime areas bordering Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, and in domestic coastal and riverine zones. These efforts will continue through the European Commission's fifth inspection, expected by the end of 2025.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Public Security will implement a monitoring system for fishing vessel and crew departures through the national e-identification platform (VNeID), and investigate individuals or groups involved in organizing illegal fishing activities in foreign waters.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Construction, and Ministry of Finance will also coordinate actions to combat IUU fishing.
Local authorities have been instructed to ensure all fishing vessels are properly registered and licensed, with data updated in the national fisheries database (VNFishbase). They must phase out unregistered vessels, support VMS equipment upgrades, and ensure full implementation of the eCDT system across all fishing ports by October 30.
Regular progress reports are required to maintain transparency and accountability throughout the campaign.
Earlier, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged authorities to put an end to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by November 15, 2025.
Viet Nam’s total seafood export value is expected to reach around US$9–9.2 billion in 2025, down nearly 10 percent compared to 2024, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP)./.
