The 14th meeting of the National Steering Committee on IUU
On the afternoon of September 23, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 14th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Prevention and Control (the National Steering Committee on IUU). At the provincial bridge point, the conference saw the participation of Mr. Lai Van Hoan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial IUU Steering Committee; leaders of relevant departments, branches and localities.
Delegates attend the conference at the provincial bridge point.
After nearly eight years of implementing measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, the 5th inspection by the European Commission (EC) scheduled for next October is considered a golden opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its commitment. In fact, over the past two years, on all four contents recommended by the EC, localities have been creating a lot of positive results. In parallel, there is strict management of "three no" fishing vessels (no registration, no inspection and no operating license). In just 6 months, localities must complete the management of thousands of three-no fishing vessels by re-registering them for management or changing occupations when the vessels do not meet the standards. To date, localities have basically updated information on the national fishing vessel database system for 81,500 vessels. Many areas that used to be key areas for IUU violations are experiencing the strongest changes in both fleet management and traceability of caught seafood.
In Hung Yen province, by September 15, 2025, the total number of fishing vessels in the province that are eligible for fishing activities that have been registered and entered into the national fishing vessel data software VnFishbase is 736 vessels with a total capacity of 141,886CV. 100% of the fishing vessels have had their cabins painted with license plates according to regulations. 130 fishing vessels with the longest length of 15 meters or more have installed voyage monitoring equipment and have been granted food safety certificates. In cases that fishing vessels do not meet the requirements such as: not connecting voyage monitoring equipment, lacking documents or having expired related documents..., they are not confirmed for departure or arrival at port and are notified to competent authorities for consideration and handling according to regulations.
At the conference, delegates from ministries, branches and localities clarified the causes and proposed drastic solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and sustainable development of the fishery sector.
In his speech at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh clearly stated his determination to remove the EU's yellow card warning in 2025. To achieve this goal, the Party committees, authorities and the whole society need to take drastic and synchronous actions, in which the support and consensus of fishermen is a prerequisite. To focus on reviewing institutions such as immediately issuing a resolution in a shortened form to handle legal issues. To improve the law enforcement skills of enforcers and all levels.
The Prime Minister also requested the Party committees, local authorities, and functional forces to continue to do a good job of mobilizing, propagating, and disseminating fishery laws, especially regulations against IUU fishing to coastal fishermen and relevant organizations and individuals. News agencies and newspapers have done a good job of information and propaganda in recent times. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is fully responsible to the Government and the Prime Minister for the results of combating IUU fishing and removing the EC's yellow card, which requires weekly updates on the results of combating IUU fishing with the EC.
