Following the directives of the Prime Minister and Central Ministries, Hai Phong City is entering a peak period with a series of strong measures aimed at completely resolving existing shortcomings in the fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The ultimate goal is to fulfill the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) to promptly remove the “Yellow Card” warning for Vietnam's seafood industry.
1. Quick Response to the Prime Minister's Urgent Directive
Faced with issues that remained unresolved after the EC's 5th inspection, on April 25, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 34/CD-TTg, requiring coastal localities to focus their leadership and allocate sufficient resources for key tasks.
Immediately, the leaders of the Hai Phong City People's Committee tasked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to preside over and coordinate with the Border Guard Command and local authorities with fishing vessels to urgently and thoroughly review all tasks. The city thoroughly disseminated the “6 Clears” management principle: clear people, clear tasks, clear time, clear responsibilities, clear products, and clear authority. All relevant agencies must report their implementation advisory results to the City People's Committee before May 6, 2026, to ensure progress as requested by the Government.
2. Establishing the Inter-agency IUU Task Force – An "Extended Arm" in Inspection and Supervision
To strengthen law enforcement effectiveness, the City Steering Committee for IUU Prevention issued Decision No. 52/QD-BCD to establish the Inter-Agency Inspection Task Force on IUU Prevention.
The Task Force is led by Ms. Pham Thi Dao, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, as the Head, with deputy heads being leaders from the Departments of: Home Affairs, Science and Technology, Foreign Affairs, Justice, the City Police, and the Fisheries Sub-department. The Task Force is responsible for comprehensively inspecting IUU implementation in 26 communes, wards, and special zones with fishing vessels across the city (including key areas such as Thuy Nguyen, Do Son, Cat Hai, Bach Long Vi...).
The inspection contents focus on:
- Managing the total number of fishing vessels and classifying eligible versus ineligible vessels.
- Verifying and strictly handling cases where fishing vessels lose VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) connection for over 6 hours at sea or cross permitted boundaries.
- Inspecting the implementation of legal regulations at border control stations, fishing ports, landing sites, and vessels anchored in port.
The Task Force has the authority to mobilize personnel and equipment and conduct unannounced (surprise) inspections until December 31, 2026.
3. Roadmap for Implementing Plan 127: Standardizing Data and Digital Infrastructure
In tandem with inspections, the city is accelerating the implementation of Plan No. 127/KH-UBND(issued on April 13, 2026, and adjusted on April 29, 2026) with tasks specifically addressing EC recommendations.
Regarding vessel management: Hai Phong aims to complete 100% of registration, inspection, and fishing license issuance. A new feature in this phase is the cross-checking of vessel information (owners, personal identification numbers) for accurate updates into the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase) and integration with the Ministry of Public Security's VNeID system. For "3-No" vessels (no registration, no license, no certificate), the city is determined to handle them to prevent new cases from arising.
Regarding activity monitoring: The city is deploying an electronic traceability system (eCDT) at major fishing ports such as Ngoc Hai and Tran Chau. Functional units organize 24/7 duty to monitor the VMS system, providing timely warnings to vessel owners when signs of violation appear. The Department of Science and Technology is responsible for coordinating with VMS service providers to ensure stable power and connection on fishing vessels.
4. Strengthening Discipline in Handling Violations and Fishery Diplomacy
The handling of administrative violations is identified by the city as a "key" task for deterrence. The City Inspectorate presides over verifying IUU violations, ensuring all penalty records match the data on management software. For fishing vessels violating VMS connection regulations or disconnecting onshore without notification, commune-level People's Committees and relevant units must clarify the cause before closing the case file.
In the field of foreign affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs is tasked with gathering information through diplomatic channels to verify and provide documentation for functional forces to resolve cases of Hai Phong fishing vessels and fishermen detained by foreign countries from 2024 to the present.
5. Commitment from Local Authorities
The leaders of the City People's Committee require Heads of Departments, sectors, and Chairmen of local People's Committees to be directly accountable to the City People's Committee if violations or delays occur in task implementation. Localities must prepare full records and documents and arrange for leaders to work directly with the Inter-agency IUU Task Force during inspections.
With the synchronous involvement of the entire political system, from perfecting digital infrastructure to tightening law enforcement discipline, Hai Phong is making every effort to contribute to the nation's goal of removing "barriers" for seafood exports, protecting sustainable livelihoods for fishermen, and affirming Vietnam's prestige in the international arena.