Decision 2310/QD-TTg 2025 on the Plan of Action for the peak month against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s fisheries sector

DECISION

Promulgating the Plan of Action for the peak month against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s fisheries sector^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the February 18, 2025 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the February 19, 2025 Law on Organization of Local Administration;

Pursuant to the November 21, 2017 Law on Fisheries;

Pursuant to  Directive No. 32-CT/TW of April 10, 2024, of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, on strengthening the Party’s leadership in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and sustainable development of the fisheries sector;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP of April 22, 2024, on the implementation of Directive No. 32-CT/TW of April 10, 2024, of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, on strengthening the Party’s leadership in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and sustainable development of the fisheries sector;

At the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Environment,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To promulgate the Plan of Action for the peak month against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s fisheries sector (below referred to as the Plan) with the following principal contents:

I. VIEWPOINTS AND GUIDELINES

1. To strictly implement Directive No. 32-CT/TW of April 10, 2024, of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, on strengthening the Party’s leadership in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and sustainably developing the fisheries sector (below referred to as Directive No. 32-CT/TW), and the directions of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Combat, and other relevant documents.

2. To launch a peak campaign to resolutely and thoroughly handle violations of the IUU combat regulations; to stop and prevent fishing vessels from committing acts of illegally fishing in foreign waters; to strive for the target that by November 15, 2025, there will no longer be cases of vessel monitoring system (VMS) disconnection for over 6 hours without reporting on vessel position to shore, disconnection for more than 10 days without heading the vessels ashore, or vessels’ crossing permitted fishing boundaries at sea.

3. To unify the awareness and action, clearly define the responsibility of related departments, ministries, sectors and localities, especially that of heads of units, to organize the performance of the IUU fishing combat task within the ambit of their assigned functions and tasks; to stay proactive, self-conscious and prompt for action, not shirking or passing the buck in inter-disciplinary and inter-locality coordination to prevent and handle violations related to IUU fishing; to enhance the responsibility of localities for sanctioning violations related to IUU fishing; to handle violations in accordance with Directive No. 32-CT/TW, and relevant regulations applicable to Party Committees, local administrations, ministries, sectors, units and individuals that fail to strictly perform their assigned tasks or show no progress in combating IUU fishing.

4. To focus on shifting from prohibited fishing occupations to other fishing occupations to protect aquatic resources, and from fishing to aquaculture (especially hi-tech marine aquaculture) and other occupations in order to ensure jobs, income and livelihood for the people.

5. To promote digital transformation, and comprehensively digitize the management of fishing activities on electronic platforms: (i) The entire database of information on shipbuilding facilities; fishing vessel registration and inspection facilities; establishments training vessel masters and chief engineers; fishing ports; border-guard posts/stations along the coast; information on fishing vessels, fishermen, fishing occupations, and aquatic species to be fished; fishing logbooks and purchase/transshipment logbooks; establishments and enterprises purchasing, processing, consuming or exporting fished aquatic products; (ii) Procedures for approval of the building or conversion of fishing vessels; registration and inspection; issuance of fishing licenses; purchase, sale and transfer of fishing vessels; traceability of fished aquatic products; and procedures for handling violations in the fisheries sector; to ensure real-time control of the entire production chain from the time of fishing vessels’ departure from ports/landing stages for fishing until their return/arrival to ports/landing stages for unloading of fished aquatic products for transportation to purchasing, processing, consuming and exporting establishments and enterprises; automatic warning and timely detection of violations related to IUU fishing.

II. OBJECTIVES

1. To concentrate resources during the peak period to implement urgent and major tasks and solutions to thoroughly address existing problems and limitations in IUU fishing combat, implement the EC’s recommendations, and prepare for working sessions with the EC’s 5^th Inspection Team to ensure their success, resolving to have the EC’s “yellow card” warning lifted after this inspection drive.

2. To manage fishing and develop the fisheries sector in a sustainable and responsible manner and carry out  international integration for the benefits of the people and the country; to enhance Vietnam’s profile, image and international responsibility in the implementation of international commitments and treaties on protection of the marine environment and sustainable marine ecosystems, thus contributing to ensuring national defense, security and sovereignty over the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

3. To promulgate a plan to ensure adherence to the “six-clarity ”principle ( “clear” persons; “clear” tasks; “clear” responsibilities; “clear” competence; “clear” timing; and “clear” outcomes/products), and apply modern technology to thoroughly resolve existing problems and limitations in combating IUU fishing, thereby having the EC’s yellow card warning lifted in 2025.

III. URGENT AND KEY TASKS AND SOLUTIONS UNTIL NOVEMBER 15, 2025

1. Regarding improvement of fisheries regulations

To review and finalize the draft Decree amending and supplementing the Government’s Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP of April 5, 2024, on sanctioning of administrative violations in the field of fisheries, and relevant regulations, ensuring coverage of all violations related to IUU fishing, raising sanction levels to have a sufficient deterrent effect, and adding competence for commune-level authorities and public security agencies.

2. Regarding fleet management

- To inventory, list and classify all existing fishing vessels (including also illegal fishing vessels that have not entered ports for a long time) to ensure strict management in accordance with the regulations on registration and issuance of fishing licenses.

- To review and identify fishing vessels on the National Population Database’s platform (VneID) for synchronized connection with the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), the database for control of fishing vessels’ departures/arrivals through border-guard posts/stations, the VMS, and the electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability (eCDT) system.

- To complete registration, inspection, issuance or extension of fishing licenses; to cross-check data of each fishing vessel (owner, citizen identity number, address, phone number, etc.), and fully and accurately update vessel data into the VNFishbase and VMS, synchronized with the VneID.

- To ensure that 100% of registered fishing vessels have their registration numbers and marks painted in accordance with Circular No. 23/2018/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment).

- To register vessels serving aquaculture and other service vessels under regulations so that there will be no fishing vessels without painted registration numbers or marks operating in localities under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s Circular No. 05/2025/TT-BNNMT.

- To deregister fishing vessels that do not need registration, inspection and fishing licenses, and vessels that are built, converted, purchased or sold in contravention of regulations.

- To promulgate and implement policies to support fishing vessels that are unqualified for operation or currently using prohibited fishing occupations in switching to other occupations to ensure jobs, income and livelihood for fishermen.

3. Regarding control of activities of fishing vessels

a/ Control of fishing vessels departing from ports or leaving border-guard stations:

- To modify and supplement criteria for opening ports (including also private fishing ports) in accordance with the revised Law on Fisheries passed by the 14^th National Assembly.

- To draw up the list of, and strictly control, unqualified fishing vessels to prevent them from fishing.

- To strictly control fishing vessels and fishermen at their places of residence to get sufficient information on all vessel owners’ and fishermen’s addresses and operating areas of fishing vessels linked to the National Population Database.

- To apply the VneID-based system for management of fishing vessels and fishermen departing from/arriving at ports/landing stages in order to control all fishing vessels and fishermen departing for fishing.

b/ Control of fishing vessels operating at sea:

- To issue regulations on coordination in patrolling, inspecting and controlling fishing vessels’ activities in maritime zones among maritime law enforcement forces such as the Border Guard, Fisheries Surveillance, Coast Guard and Navy forces.

- To promulgate policies to support fishermen in upgrading or replacing VMS equipment up to the requirements specified in Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP and maintaining around-the-clock VMS connection even when fishing vessels are anchored ashore.

- To apply an automatic vessel position reporting system when VMS is disconnected at sea so that fishermen know and comply with regulations.

- To further improve the VMS, data synchronization mechanism, and vessel position reporting regime; to analyze cases of fishing vessels subject to violation warnings by VMS before notifying such to functional agencies or forces for handling under regulations.

c/ Prevention and handling of fishing vessels’ violating foreign waters:

- To work with authorities of host countries and vessel masters currently detained abroad in investigating violations and collecting evidence for thoroughly handling violation cases under regulations.

- To deploy maximum forces and means (the Coast Guard, Border Guard, Navy, Public Security, and central and local Fisheries Surveillance forces, etc.) to launch a peak period for regular and continuous patrol, inspection and control in maritime zones bordering Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, and on islands, at estuaries, river mouths, inlets, and coastal sandy areas, etc., in order to prevent and handle fishing vessels conducting IUU fishing until the end of the EC’s 5^th inspection drive.

d/ Control of fishing vessels entering border-guard stations and ports:

- To apply the VneID-based system for management of fishing vessels and fishermen departing from/arriving at ports/landing stages in order to control all fishing vessels and fishermen returning from their trips.

- To designate agencies and allocate resources to inspect and control fishing vessels entering border-guard stations or ports under unified regulations on VneID, and control fishing vessels sailing through border-guard stations and on the eCDT system.

4. Regarding traceability of fished aquatic products

a/ For domestically fished aquatic products:

- To complete, guide, and synchronously and uniformly apply the fishing-logbook and eCDT systems at all fishing ports (including also private ones).

- To upgrade information technology infrastructure (desktops, tablets, and Internet access) at fishing ports to help fishermen update data to VneID, border guard information, e-logbook, and eCDT systems.

- All fishermen, establishments purchasing fished aquatic products, processing enterprises, fishing ports, and state management agencies in charge of fisheries shall monitor fished aquatic product volumes unloaded at ports, and traceability records of fished aquatic products on e-logbook and eCDT systems.

- To ensure that all fishing vessels of 15 meters or more in length and engaged in fishing activities make their departures from/arrivals at ports on the eCDT system at fishing ports and use the e-logbook system as guided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

b/ For fished aquatic products imported under the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) and by container vessels:

- To set up contact channels with regional fisheries management organizations, flag states, and licensing states to verify and cross-check vessel management information, fishing licenses, transshipment licenses, etc.

- To allocate sufficient resources (funds, personnel, and equipment, etc.) to examine records, monitor volumes/species of imported aquatic products at seaports, and processing/export plants; to purchase information, and access international databases to verify and cross-check information on vessels, and fished aquatic products imported into Vietnam.

5. Regarding law enforcement and violation handling

- To consolidate files, and thoroughly handle cases of illegal fishing in foreign waters; cases of VMS disconnection for more than 6 hours without reporting on vessel position to shore, or for more than 10 days without heading fishing vessels ashore, or vessels’ crossing permitted fishing boundaries at sea since 2024 that have been detected, and continue to thoroughly handle arising violations.

- To prosecute and adjudicate cases against which legal proceedings have been initiated in An Giang, Ca Mau and Gia Lai provinces and Ho Chi Minh City, and continue to initiate legal proceedings against, prosecute and adjudicate acts related to sending fishing vessels and fishermen for illegal fishing in foreign waters back, sending and transportation of VMS equipment in accordance with Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP of Judicial Council of the Supreme People’s Court (below referred to as Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP).

- To ensure connection and synchronous interoperability of databases for monitoring and updating results of the sanctioning of administrative violations in the field of fisheries between the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

(The assignment of tasks for the implementation of the Plan is provided in the Appendix to this Decision).

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. Ministries, departments, sectors, and People’s Committees of the coastal provinces and cities:

- Based on the viewpoints, objectives, tasks and solutions approved in this Plan and Directive No. 32-CT/TW, directions of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Combat, and their competence, functions and tasks, to formulate specific plans and fund estimates for task performance; to stay proactive, self-conscious and responsive in coordinating with one another in organizing the strict implementation of tasks and solutions assigned to them under this Plan; to summarize and report implementation results before 10:00 every Monday, and report on the 15^th every month and on an unscheduled basis (when requested) to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for summarization and reporting to serve weekly briefings of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Combat, using the form provided in the Appendix to this Decision.

- To allocate sufficient resources, regularly and constantly direct, urge, inspect and supervise their attached agencies and functional forces in implementing the IUU fishing combat tasks and solutions assigned to them under this Decision.

- Ministers, heads of sectors, departments and localities, and related agencies and functional forces shall take responsibility before the Government and the Prime Minister for results of the implementation of this Plan within their agencies and units.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (the standing body of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Combat) shall:

- Regularly organize working teams to inspect, guide, and urge localities in implementing the IUU fishing combat tasks and solutions, and implementing the EC’s recommendations in their localities.

- Organize inspection of fished aquatic products imported to ensure full compliance with the PSMA, and transported in container vessels.

- Provide professional training in fishing operations, VMS operation, and violation handling for law enforcement officers (of the Navy, Coast Guard, Border Guard, Public Security, and Fisheries Surveillance forces, and local Inspectorates, etc.).

- Assist the Government in regularly inspecting, supervising, guiding and urging the implementation of the Plan; report to competent authorities on issues arising in the course of implementation for handling; summarize and report thereon to serve weekly (Tuesday) briefings of the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Combat; and summarize and report on overall implementation results before November 30, 2025, or on an unscheduled basis as requested.

3. The Ministry of Public Security shall:

Direct public security agencies of units and coastal localities in:

- Assuming the prime responsibility for, and coordinating with same-level People’s Procuracies and People’s Courts, and related agencies in, reviewing and accelerating the investigation, and definitely handling criminal cases concerning violations related to IUU fishing for prosecution and public trial for public communication and deterrence purposes; assessing difficulties, problems and shortcomings in the investigation and handling of criminal cases concerning violations related to IUU fishing, especially the application of Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP, in order to timely propose solutions; continuing to coordinate with related functional agencies in guiding and handling cases of administrative violations related to IUU fishing. Commune-level public security agencies shall tightly manage, certify information on changes in places of residence of masters and chief engineers, enclosed with lists of crewmembers, when these people need to depart for fishing, or promptly exchange opinions with forces at fishing ports, border guards, and fisheries surveillance forces for coordinated management.

- Accelerating the review and updating of information on fishing vessels, vessel owners, masters and crewmembers into the National Population Database; coordinating with Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel Group), and related ministries and sectors in carrying out the comprehensive digitalization of information in IUU fishing management, integrating data into the database connected with VneID.

- Reporting on results of the detection of criminal cases and matters and the rate of settled criminal cases; information (quantity, full names, registration numbers, temporary residence addresses) on vessel owners who have not been at registered places of permanent residence for long periods; and on the number of fishing vessels and fishermen staying on board vessels to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on a weekly basis under regulations.

4. The Ministry of National Defense shall:

- Issue regulations on coordination in patrol, inspection and control of operations of fishing vessels in the maritime zones among the maritime law enforcement forces, such as the Border Guard, Fisheries Surveillance, Coast Guard and Navy forces.

- Direct the law enforcement forces (the Coast Guard, Border Guard and Fisheries Surveillance forces) in allocating maximum resources for conducting peak drive of regular and constant patrols, inspections and controls in the maritime zones contiguous to such countries as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, and on islands, at estuaries, river mouths, inlets, and coastal sandy areas, etc.; strictly control fishing vessels departing/entering ports and border-guard posts/stations when engaging in fishing activities under regulations; and refrain from allowing fishing vessels to depart posts/stations without fishing ports’ certification.

- Handle administrative violations according to its competence under Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP, focusing on verifying and handling violations regarding VMS, vessels’ crossing permitted fishing boundaries at sea, sending or transporting VMS equipment, or illegal fishing in foreign waters.

- Direct the Viettel Group to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Public Security, related ministries and sectors, and the 21 coastal localities in, expeditiously completing the system for monitoring, supervising and warning fishing vessels; comprehensively digitizing the management of fishing vessels (including controlling fishing vessels’ departures from and arrivals at ports) integrated with population data, sharing and interoperable connections among sectors and localities to serve the management of fishing activities by the forces at sea and onshore, and providing public services, ensuring that data are accurate, adequate, truthful and updated, and ensuring publicity and transparency.

- Report on the quantity of fishing vessels from each locality departing from or arriving through border-guard control stations; rate of violating fishing when passing border-guard control stations and rate of sanctioned fishing vessels; quantity of sanctioned fishing vessels among the total inspected fishing vessels at sea; quantity of fishing vessels having crossed maritime boundaries and quantity of sanctioned ones; quantity of fishing vessels engaged in illegal fishing and arrested by foreign countries, and quantity of handled vessels.

5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and ministerial-level agencies (the Ministries of Public Security, National Defense, and Agriculture and Environment, etc.) and concerned localities in, collecting information, evidences and judgments from foreign countries that have arrested and handled Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen for investigation and thorough handling of cases of violation in foreign waters; and conduct diplomatic efforts to correct adverse and incorrect information provided by foreign countries about Vietnamese vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters.

- Regularly grasp the situation and update information on viewpoints and moves of foreign countries and international organizations regarding Vietnam’s IUU fishing combat; intensify diplomatic lobbying activities, garner support from stakeholders in requesting the EC to consider Vietnam’s efforts in combating IUU fishing, and lift the “yellow card” warning during the 5^th inspection drive; and implement relevant international agreements and conventions concerning IUU fishing combat.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, sectors and localities in, advising on negotiations with related countries on maritime zone boundary delimitation and fishing cooperation between them and Vietnam; and negotiate joint fishing cooperation in contiguous or undemarcated maritime zones between Vietnam and foreign countries.

- Report on the quantity of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen arrested by foreign countries; and rate of fishing vessels and fishermen on which/whom information has been provided at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

6. The Ministry of Justice shall:

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and related ministries and sectors in monitoring, guiding, inspecting and supervising the handling of violations concerning IUU fishing in localities.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in reviewing and improving the legal framework to meet the EC’s recommendations on combating IUU fishing.

7. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall:

- Direct the inspection of assurance of VMS equipment quality, implementation of regulations on provision of satellite mobile telecommunications services for vehicle monitoring activities by VMS service and equipment providers; ensure stable operation of VMS service subscriptions without any satellite errors, and maintain VMS connection for all equipment during the peak period (from now until the EC’s 5^th inspection team concludes inspection in Vietnam).

- Direct the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) to continue coordinating with others in resolving technical issues, further upgrading and improving the system, and transforming VMS data connections as requested by ministries, sectors and localities.

- Report on the quantity of active VMS service subscriptions, the list of suspended VMS service subscriptions, the assessment of telecommunications service quality for VMS, and violation handling results.

8. The Ministry of Finance shall:

- Arrange and allocate budget funds and other lawful funding sources based on proposals of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and related ministries, sectors and localities in order to perform the IUU fishing combat task, and invest in fisheries infrastructure, and digital transformation in and sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in properly controlling fished aquatic materials imported; and prevent and promptly dispose of aquatic materials originating from IUU fishing.

- Report on the cumulative volume of aquatic products imported into Vietnam by container vessels from the beginning of 2025 and on a weekly basis; and results of the allocation of budget funds to ministries, sectors and localities for performing the IUU fishing combat task.

9. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall:

- Direct its attached agencies and units to regularly contact and exchange opinions with the EC on Vietnam’s IUU fishing combat, promptly provide information to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for resolving issues related to IUU fishing combat according to the EC’s recommendations.

- Provide updated reports on fisheries-related trade barriers in international markets; and quantity and settlement results of trade disputes related to IUU fishing between Vietnam and foreign countries and territories.

10. The Ministry of Construction shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for handling activities related to foreign vessels carrying aquatic materials originating from IUU fishing docking at ports under the Ministry of Construction’s management, fully implement the provisions of PSMA and for container vessels.

- Report on the volume of fished aquatic products unloaded at ports designated under the PSMA.

11. People’s Committees of the coastal provinces and cities shall:

- Mobilize the combined strength of the entire political system, especially at the grassroots level (border-guard posts and stations; commune-level public security agencies; grassroots administrations; political and socio-political organizations; societies, business associations, mass organizations, and state management agencies in charge of fisheries, etc.), to understand key areas, carry out public communication, mobilization, education and deterrence activities; and promptly monitor, detect, denounce and prevent fishing vessels that intend to violate foreign waters.

- Inventory and classify, and complete registration, inspection, issuance or extension of licenses for, qualified fishing vessels; cross-check data of each fishing vessel (owner, citizen identification number, address, phone number, etc.), and fully and accurately update fishing vessel data and information into VNFishbase and VMS, synchronized with VneID.

- Draw up lists of fishing vessels unqualified for fishing (unregistered, uninspected or with expired inspection, unlicensed for fishing or with expired fishing license, without installed VMS equipment or having VMS equipment disconnected for over one year, etc.), classify specific cases (current vessel location, owner, reason for not proceeding with registration, inspection, licensing or VMS installation, etc.), arrange concentrated anchoring locations; post up these lists in residential communities and seal fishing vessels, and refrain from leaving fishing gear and equipment on board fishing vessels; assign grassroots administrations (border-guard posts/stations; commune-level public security agencies and administrations; and village/hamlet officials, etc.) to monitor anchoring locations of all fishing vessels unqualified for fishing.

- Draw up lists of local establishments purchasing fished aquatic products (middlemen, fish depots, enterprises, etc.) for management and control, allowing only the purchase of aquatic products from vessels unloading at fishing ports; at the same time, strictly handle activities of unloading fished aquatic products in contravention of Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP.

- Strictly handle notary public offices that have notarized contracts on vessel purchase, sale, transfer or title change in contravention of the 2017 Fisheries Law and detailing documents (approval of vessel purchase and sale, notification of fishing license quota transfer, etc.).

- Inspect and guide fishermen in installing and connecting VMS equipment, ensuring their stable operation on board fishing vessels; maintain, upgrade or replace equipment not meeting technical requirements.

- Ensure that all fishing vessels arrive at or depart from ports under regulations; control all fishing vessels upon departure and arrival; vessels departing through border-guard posts or stations for fishing must have departure certification by fishing ports; vessels arriving through border-guard posts or stations must be notified to fishing ports, commune public security agencies, and grassroots administrations for control and handling for failure to arrive at ports for unloading fished aquatic products under regulations.

- Carry out daily collation of data on vessels entering and leaving fishing ports and data on vessel departures and arrivals, ensuring that information on vessels leaving ports match that on departing vessels, and information on vessels entering ports match that on arriving vessels in their localities.

- Closely monitor and control logistics vessels engaged in fishing, ensure traceability, determination of original sources of fished aquatic products transshipped and docked at ports for unloading; and strictly handle acts of transshipping or supporting vessels that are identified as engaged in IUU fishing activities.

- Update results of the sanctioning of administrative violations in the field of fisheries on the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s database on sanctioning of administrative violations in the field of fisheries.

- Allocate sufficient resources (means, funding, human resources, equipment, etc.) to control operation of fishing vessels entering or leaving ports and operating at sea; monitor the output and traceability of fished aquatic products under regulations; handle administrative violations, criminally handle violations concerning IUU fishing under regulations; carry out public communication, and publicize violation handling results under regulations for deterrent and educational purposes; and strictly handle organizations and individuals that fail to fulfill their official duties.

- Report on: (i) Results of fleet management (number of fishing vessels registered, licensed, inspected, installed with VMS, and having obtained food safety certificates; number of fishing vessels unqualified for operation, and management measures to prevent them from fishing); (ii) Number of fishing vessels committing serious violations concerning IUU fishing (VMS disconnection, vessels’ crossing permitted fishing boundaries, illegal fishing in foreign waters); rate of sanctioned/unsanctioned fishing vessels; (iii) Number of fishing vessels of 15 meters or more in length that have been registered in their localities, and arrive at designated ports or make transshipment at sea; number of fishing vessels of 15 meters or more in length that have been registered in their localities and do not arrive at designated ports for unloading products under regulations, and rate of violating vessels sanctioned under regulations.

Article 3. Effect

This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 4. Implementation responsibility

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of the People’s Committees of the coastal provinces and cities, heads of related agencies and units, and related organizations and individuals shall implement this Decision.-

Prime Minister
PHAM MINH CHINH

Appendix I

Plan of Action for the peak month against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s fisheries sector

(To the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2310/QD-TTg of October 17, 2025)