The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has issued a plan for a high-intensity campaign to implement measures for addressing the European Commission (EC)’s recommendations on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, joining hands with the rest of the country to have the EC’s "yellow card" warning lifted in 2026.
Authorities conduct IUU fishing outreach and present gifts to fishermen in the waters off Con Dao Special Zone. Photo: VNA
Under the plan, the city will focus on a number of key tasks, including strictly managing 100% of its fishing fleet, cleaning and regularly updating data on the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), and resolutely preventing vessels that fail to meet the required conditions from operating at sea.
Relevant forces will monitor all fishing boats equipped with vessel monitoring systems (VMS) when they leave and return to port, while maintaining 24/7 duty rosters to promptly detect and deal with cases in which vessels lose connection or cross maritime boundaries.
The city also aims to ensure that 100% of fishing vessels measuring 6 metres or more in length entering or leaving ports and unloading seafood are recorded on the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT), and will resolutely refuse to issue certification for consignments lacking the required data.
Applications for certificates of seafood origin for export will be processed online in accordance with the relevant circular issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Environment.
In the long term, the southern economic hub aims to build a management system supporting a transparent, responsible, law-abiding and modern fisheries sector oriented towards sustainable development and capable of meeting the requirements of international integration.
In recent years, efforts to combat IUU fishing in Ho Chi Minh City have produced positive results. However, cases of fishing vessels losing VMS connection, crossing permitted boundaries and violating foreign waters have not been completely eliminated.
The municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the municipal Department of Public Security, Border Guard Command and Department of Justice, along with the People's Committees of Long Hai, Phuoc Hai, Vung Tau and Phuoc Thang communes and wards, has completed action on all 74 outstanding fishing vessels that lost VMS connection as identified in the conclusion of the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam. Administrative fines totalling more than 1 billion VND (38,367 USD) were imposed.
Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Bui Minh Thanh said combating IUU fishing and having the EC’s "yellow card" warning lifted is an urgent political task for the entire political system, linked to the country’s reputation and the interests of fishermen.
The city requires the entire enforcement system to act according to the principle of clearly defining the persons responsible, tasks, responsibilities, authority, deadlines, deliverables and outcomes. Heads of agencies and units must bear full responsibility for the progress and quality of the tasks assigned to them./.