PM Pham Minh Chinh chairs an online meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, November 25, 2025. (Photo: VGP)

Chairing a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing on Tuesday in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Chinh said despite progress in addressing IUU violations, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa, Ca Mau, An Giang, and Tay Ninh province have not yet resolved cases of administrative violations, VMS connection losses, or fishing vessels crossing boundaries. Mr. Chinh asked that these cases be fully resolved within the coming week.

As for cases in which fishing vessels and fishermen were detained by foreign authorities in 2024 and 2025, still pending resolution despite having sufficient information, the Prime Minister ordered that they be settled before the end of this month.

Over the past week, ministries, sectors, and localities have completed 85 of 99 assigned tasks, and 14 tasks are still on schedule.

"The heads of ministries, sectors, and localities must take full responsibility if fishing vessel violations occur or progress in removing the IUU yellow card is delayed. They must fully update their fisheries databases and the national fisheries database, and handle administrative violations in the fisheries sector. All ministries, sectors, and localities must rigorously enforce these rules and remain prepared to receive the EC’s inspection mission, ensuring that information provided is complete, consistent, and synched across all levels," said Mr. Chinh. 

The Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Ministry of National Defense, to effectively implement the Intersectoral Coordination Regulation on combating IUU fishing. Ministries and sectors are urged to strengthen coordination in inspecting and guiding coastal localities with fishing fleets in preparation for the EC’s fifth inspection mission.

"Related agencies must work with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and provide required information for the inspection mission. We must resolve all issues in completing traceability records and the national fisheries database and make them publicly available on mass media, and tighten control over imported seafood raw materials to prevent IUU-sourced products from entering Vietnam," said Mr. Chinh. 

The Prime Minister called on relevant authorities to strictly control the departure and arrival of fishing vessels, sanction vessels that fail to meet operating requirements, and verify and collect full information about fishermen engaged in IUU fishing in foreign waters who have been repatriated so that competent agencies may discipline them according to regulations.

Mr. Chinh urged that policies on job replacement to create sustainable livelihoods for fishermen be completed by the end of this month.