Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed
Under Prime Ministerial Decision No. 2310/QD-TTg, dated October 17, 2025, an action plan for the peak month of combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries development has been promulgated.
The plan aims to mobilise all resources to address long-standing shortcomings in the fight against IUU fishing, meet European Commission (EC) recommendations, and prepare for the EC’s fifth inspection, with the ultimate goal of having the “yellow card” warning lifted during this review.
Under the plan, by November 15, 2025, no fishing vessel should lose VMS (vessel monitoring system) connection for more than six hours without reporting or for more than ten days without returning to port. In addition, no vessel will be allowed to cross designated maritime boundaries.
The action plan also calls for a transition from banned fishing practices to sustainable methods, promoting a shift from capture fisheries to aquaculture, particularly high-tech marine farming, to help secure livelihoods for fishermen.
Furthermore, the plan emphasises digital transformation and the full digitalisation of fisheries management, ensuring better monitoring, transparency, and traceability throughout the industry.