The Prime Minister requested to resolutely not allow unqualified fishing vessels to operate.

The meeting was held at the Government headquarters; online to 21 coastal provinces and cities. Also attending were member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha; leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies; leaders of coastal provinces and cities.

Comrades: Le Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired at the bridge point of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee.

Strict control of unqualified fishing vessels

Since the 20th meeting (November 4), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, together with ministries, branches and localities, have continued to carry out the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister to overcome the "yellow card" warning of the European Commission.

As of November 8, 2025, the country had 1,810/79,734 fishing vessels that were not qualified for exploitation, accounting for 2.27%. These vessels were all listed, handed over to local authorities for management, and were only allowed to set sail after completing registration, inspection, licensing, and installation of vessel monitoring equipment (VMS).

Regarding handling violations, 8/22 localities have completely resolved the backlog of cases related to VMS disconnection and over-exploitation boundaries. Last week, the Ministry of Public Security announced that it had initiated 2 more criminal cases and 2 defendants related to IUU fishing in Gia Lai and An Giang; the cumulative number from 2024 to November 7, 2025 was 88 cases/132 defendants, of which 44 cases and 90 defendants were brought to trial.

In Nghe An, the province has completed 9/19 key tasks according to Official Dispatch 198 and the Conclusion Notices of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Of which, 100% of qualified fishing vessels have been registered, inspected, and licensed; all fishing vessel data has been updated in VNFishbase and compared with the VneID database.

The province strictly controls 100% of unqualified vessels, forcing them to anchor at the port; at the same time, marking and writing fishing vessel license plates according to regulations. Information technology infrastructure at fishing ports has also been upgraded to support fishermen in updating data. All vessels 15m or longer in length must declare their departure and arrival at the port through the electronic traceability system (eCDT) and 100% of qualified vessels have been installed with VMS equipment.

Nghe An is currently implementing 10 of the remaining 19 tasks. In particular, the province is determined to prevent fishing vessels from illegally exploiting in foreign waters; not allowing vessels to set sail, and confiscating documents from vessels that do not meet the conditions.

The identification of owners of ships that have been deregistered due to missing notices, exports or donations is also being completed. To date, information on 62/64 ships has been clearly verified, and 2 ships are being focused on verification.

In addition, Nghe An drafted a Resolution to submit to the Provincial People's Council on policies for career conversion, liquidation of fishing vessels and support for fishermen to upgrade and replace VMS equipment.

The province has also announced the opening and operation of 4 type II fishing ports funded by the budget, including: Quynh Phuong, Cua Hoi, Lach Quen, Lach Van, and deployed forces to control 100% of ships leaving and arriving at the port and monitor loading and unloading output. For private fishing ports, it is expected to open 2 more type III ports before November 15.

Border Guard, Agriculture and Police forces are focusing on handling vessels that violate VMS connection, striving to complete 100% before November 15.

Xstrictly punish fishing vessels that violate

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the efforts of ministries, branches and localities in implementing tasks, especially the positive changes compared to last week.

The Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to continue to uphold their sense of responsibility, take drastic actions, and ensure effective methods in preventing and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing for the honor and prestige of the country.

He paid special attention to the preparation of reports for the European Commission (EC), requiring agencies to prepare carefully, ensuring consistency, synchronization and a clear database.

The Prime Minister emphasized that to have a good summary report, first of all, the weekly reports of each unit must be of quality, with specific and consistent data; the data needs to be unified in a measurement system, standards and regulations.

For localities, the head of the Government requested leaders of coastal provinces and cities with fishing vessels to grasp the situation, focus on leadership, and direct drastic, comprehensive, and effective measures to combat IUU fishing.

“Absolutely do not let violations or negativity affect the common efforts of the whole country; maintain strict control of all fishing vessels entering and leaving ports according to regulations; resolutely do not allow unqualified or unregistered fishing vessels to participate in activities,” Comrade Pham Minh Chinh emphasized.

The Prime Minister also requested 14 localities that have not yet completed handling administrative violations of VMS connection loss beyond the permitted boundary to urgently complete it before November 16 and urgently complete the tasks being deployed according to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; urgently and seriously update all data, and strictly punish violating fishing vessels.

The Prime Minister also requested ministries, branches and localities to continue paying attention to fishermen's lives, aiming for sustainable development in fisheries exploitation.