The Prime Minister has just signed Official Dispatch No. 198/CD-TTg requesting relevant ministries, branches and localities to focus on implementing the peak month of combating IUU fishing and sustainably developing Vietnam’s fisheries industry.

The Prime Minister has tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment with urgently reviewing and finalizing the draft decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 38/2024/NĐ-CP dated April 5, 2024, which stipulates administrative penalties in the fisheries sector. The finalized draft must be completed by October 25, 2025.

Additionally, the Ministry of National Defense is to continue refining and guiding the implementation of the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT), with a deadline of November 15, 2025. A communication channel must also be established with regional fisheries organizations and flag states to verify and cross-check vessel management information, fishing licenses, and transshipment activities. This task is to be completed by October 30, 2025.

Coordinate, allocate maximum energy, implement methods for peak screening utilities, patrol, inspect, and control regularly and continuously in sea areas bordering countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and islands, estuaries, river mouths, inlets, coastal flats... to prevent and handle fishing vessels violating IUU fishing until the completion of the 5th inspection by the European Commission; to be completed before November 15, 2025. 

Implement synchronous connection and communication between the convenient vehicle control database of the Ministry of National Defense and the electronic seafood origin access system (eCDT) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; to be completed before October 30, 2025.

Focus on verifying and handling violations of VMS, exceeding the permitted boundaries for exploitation at sea, sending and transporting VMS equipment, and violating illegal fishing in foreign waters from 2024 to present according to the authority prescribed in Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP; to be completed before October 30, 2025. Control fishing vessels and fishermen entering and leaving ports on VNelD.

The Minister of Public Security directs and puts into use the system to control fishing vessels and fishermen entering and leaving ports on VNelD; to be completed before October 30, 2025. Inventory and identify all existing fishing vessels for management; to be completed before October 30, 2025.

Working with fishermen who have been arrested, processed abroad and returned to identify the masterminds and brokers who brought fishing vessels and fishermen to violate foreign waters; complete before October 30, 2025. 

Investigate and thoroughly handle fishing vessels: TG-94556-TS; HP-9057-TS (KG-96103-TS); HP-9058-TS (KG-94781-TS), BL-91132-TS that violated foreign waters discovered by the Vietnam Coast Guard; complete before October 30, 2025…

The Minister of Industry and Trade (MoIT) directs its agencies and units to regularly contact and exchange with the EC on the situation of combating IUU fishing in Vietnam, and promptly inform the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to resolve issues related to combating IUU fishing according to the EC's recommendations. 

Responsible for reporting and updating trade barriers related to seafood in international markets; the number and results of handling seafood trade disputes related to IUU fishing between Vietnam and other countries and territories...