Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered the launch of a month-long campaign to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, aiming to promote the sustainable development of Vietnam’s fisheries sector.
In Official Dispatch No. 198/CD-TTg, dated late last week, the Prime Minister emphasized that tackling IUU fishing and removing the European Commission’s (EC) “yellow card” warning remain critical, urgent, and top-priority tasks.
He directed ministers, agency heads, and chairpersons of coastal provincial and municipal People’s Committees to mobilize all available resources to carry out key measures to tackle the issue throughout the campaign.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been assigned to review and finalize updates to administrative penalties in the fisheries sector by October 25, and to implement an electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT) by November 15.
The Ministry of National Defence is tasked with establishing a national control system for fishing vessel operations by October 30.
The ministry will also coordinate patrols and inspections in maritime zones bordering Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, as well as along coastal areas, rivers, and estuaries, to prevent and address IUU fishing violations ahead of the European Commission’s fifth inspection at the end of 2025.
Local authorities have been instructed to ensure that all fishing vessels are properly registered and licensed, in line with national regulations.
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