On February 24, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà chaired the 31st meeting of the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing. At the Quảng Ngãi online venue, the meeting was chaired by Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Đỗ Tâm Hiển.
Quảng Ngãi brigde point
According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE), implementing tasks assigned at the 30th meeting and Official Dispatch No. 03/CĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister on continuing efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the MoAE has coordinated with the Ministries of Public Security, National Defence, Justice, Science and Technology, and the Government Inspectorate to establish inter-sectoral inspection teams conducting comprehensive reviews of IUU prevention and control in 15 key localities.
Inspection results showed positive outcomes in fisheries vessel management, monitoring and supervision of fishing activities, traceability, law enforcement, and administrative sanctioning. As of 5:00 p.m. on February 22, 2026, 100 per cent of fishing vessels nationwide had been registered and fully updated in the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), totaling 80,324 out of 80,324 vessels.
During the week, functional forces inspected and controlled 14,172 fishing vessel departures and 13,828 arrivals; monitored a total landed seafood volume of 30,158 tons through ports, with full updates on the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT). Information and communication activities were intensified, contributing to raising fishermen’s awareness of IUU prevention.
Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà requested ministries, sectors and localities to continue implementing IUU prevention tasks in a decisive and coordinated manner; maintain inter-sectoral inspections and supervision; strengthen communication and guidance for vessel owners and captains to ensure full compliance with electronic traceability requirements; and strictly handle organizations and individuals violating IUU-related regulations.
At the same time, ministries and localities were urged to urgently develop and finalize an overall plan and working contents for the inspection mission of the European Commission, ensuring connectivity, data integration, and compliance with inspection requirements.
*Immediately after the 31st meeting of the National Steering Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Đỗ Tâm Hiển chaired a meeting with relevant departments, agencies and localities to implement key tasks related to IUU fishing prevention in Quảng Ngãi.
Reportedly, in recent years, the province has synchronously and resolutely implemented directives of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. As a result, significant progress has been made, contributing to national efforts to remove the European Commission’s “yellow card”.
To date, Quảng Ngãi has completed all 19 assigned tasks. All fishing vessels have been registered and updated in VNFishbase. 100 per cent of operating vessels have been licensed for fishing. Fleet management has been tightened. Especially, vessels that do not meet requirements are strictly prohibited from operating and subject to severe sanctions.
Seafood traceability has been rigorously implemented through the electronic logbook and reporting system, ensuring 100 per cent control of vessels entering and leaving ports.
Communication activities have been regularly maintained in diverse forms, focusing on legal regulations and responsibilities of vessel owners, captains, crew members, and related stakeholders.
Concluding the provincial meeting, Vice Chairman Đỗ Tâm Hiển emphasized that the province has basically completed all central directives to date, while acknowledging and commending the strong efforts of departments, sectors and localities. However, he noted that some shortcomings and limitations remain and must be addressed in the coming period.
He assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to take the lead, in coordination with agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, to thoroughly prepare necessary conditions for receiving the European Commission’s inspection mission in the province. The department was also tasked with urgently reviewing violation handling results; coordinating with the Provincial Border Guard Command to reconcile and unify port-entry data and border post records; developing coordination regulations for accurate data management and synchronization among software systems; strengthening management of vessels operating in informal waterways; and tightening supervision of private fishing ports purchasing seafood without adequate traceability and food safety assurance.
Chairpersons of commune and ward-level People’s Committees are responsible for managing fishing vessels in their localities, coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and Environment and the Border Guard to determine vessel locations and operational status.
The Provincial Police were tasked with strengthening inspection, supervision, and proactive handling of violations, while the Civil Judgment Enforcement Agency was requested to intensify implementation of tasks related to vessels under enforcement decisions.
Minh Thiện
