Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the 29th meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, in Hanoi on January 6, 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the 29th meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, in Hanoi on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to fully update prevention results, including the early detection and interception of vessels at risk of violations.

He also called for the urgent issuance of legal and technical guidelines to ensure that fishermen, captains, crew members, and management agencies can effectively use electronic databases and vessel monitoring systems.

Regarding the installation of VMS equipment, Mr. Ha requested clear, transparent regulations: "Each vessel may install up to two registered VMS devices, but only one may be activated at a time. In the event of signal loss, reporting procedures and competent authorities must be clearly defined, and the installation agency must bear responsibility. These devices are state-managed assets, and any unauthorized removal or misuse constitutes a legal violation."

He also urged seafood processing, exporting, and importing enterprises targeting the European market to conduct self-reviews and corrective actions, while emphasizing the need for close cross-checking of data among border guards, fishing ports, and electronic systems.

Lieutenant General Le Quang Dao, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, said the Ministry of National Defense is currently maintaining 52 Coast Guard vessels operating in waters bordering Indonesia, Thailand, and other countries.

He said: "To date, digitalized management has enabled effective vessel control, VMS supervision, traceability, and enforcement through digital platforms. More than 79,000 core fisheries data records have been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, ensuring effective monitoring at border gates and seaports. Over the past week, border guard stations processed more than 19,200 vessel arrivals and departures, an increase of over 1,600 compared to the previous week, with all vessels meeting regulatory requirements."

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, ministries, sectors, and localities have so far completed key data systems, including licensing and registration on the National Fisheries Database (VnFishbase), electronic fishing logbooks (eLogbook), electronic catch documentation and traceability systems (eCDT), vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and administrative violation handling systems in the fisheries sector.