The Prime Minister acknowledged the urgent and serious efforts of relevant ministries, agencies, and local authorities, commending their efforts in tackling IUU fishing - a critical issue for lifting the EC yellow card.

He directed relevant authorities to review all tasks in the monthly action plan against IUU fishing, urging ministries and localities to report progress by November 30 and to take full responsibility if violations or delays occur.

Lifting the yellow card is not only a requirement from the EC but also a key goal for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s fisheries sector, he stressed.

The PM insisted that relevant ministries, agencies, and local authorities must regularly update accurate data to the fisheries database systems and ensure thorough monitoring and supervision of fishing activities.

He also called for localities to maintain rigorous daily inspections and surveillance of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports. Vessels that do not meet required conditions should not be allowed to go to sea. Furthermore, he urged collaboration with Viettel to deploy modern monitoring technologies, and if there is a funding shortage, local authorities must report promptly for resolution.

Another important task is to create sustainable livelihoods for fishermen. The Prime Minister urged local authorities to accelerate the implementation of policies for occupational conversion and ensure completion by November 30, as only two out of the 22 coastal provinces have so far implemented these measures.

The EC is scheduled to send an inspection team to Vietnam in the coming days and this is the EC’s fifth inspection trip during the past eight years. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to have the yellow card removed.

Therefore, the PM instructed relevant ministries, agencies, and local authorities to maintain a state of readiness for the arrival of the EC inspection team, ensuring that information provided is complete, consistent, and coordinated.

Vietnam enforces strict, transparent measures against IUU fishing

VOV.VN - Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang highlighted Vietnam’s consistent stance and ongoing efforts to prevent, combat, and strictly manage illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing at the ministry’s regular press briefing on November 6 in Hanoi.