Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha speaks at a meeting of the national steering committee on IUU fishing prevention, Hanoi, November 18, 2025.

Chairing a meeting of the national steering committee on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing prevention, he stressed that the system must also include clear decentralization so that all stakeholders, including fishermen, can access and declare information.

Localities were told to review their fishing fleets to ensure each vessel has a complete data profile; verify vessel eligibility; revoke expired or non-compliant licenses; and provide support measures for fishermen.

“Concrete measures are needed to control and monitor ineligible vessels. For expired vessels, their licenses must be revoked and cancelled. For vessels that have never been licensed, conditions should be created so they can obtain licenses once they meet all requirements. When vessels are confiscated, local authorities must consider support policies for affected fishermen,” said Deputy PM Ha.

He also called for expanded international cooperation, particularly with Malaysia and other countries with abundant fishing grounds, to enable Vietnamese fishermen to engage in legal and stable fishing activities.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, all fishing vessels (79,360) nationwide have been registered and updated in the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), and nearly 97% have been licensed.

Vessels deemed ineligible for operation are under local supervision, and no violations of foreign waters by Vietnamese vessels were recorded over the past week.