Lam Dong Takes Decisive Action to Implement the Prime Minister’s Dispatch on Combating IUU Fishing

Strengthening Leadership Accountability

Under the direction of the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, heads of departments and agencies, along with Party Secretaries and Chairpersons of People’s Committees of communes, wards and Phu Quy Special Zone with fishing vessels, are required to thoroughly grasp and rigorously implement assigned tasks. Accountability of leaders will be directly linked to implementation outcomes.

Lam Dong Province has firmly declared a “zero-tolerance stance” toward IUU fishing, mobilizing maximum resources to swiftly remove the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning.

Comprehensive Review and Urgent Remedial Measures

The Department of Agriculture and Environment has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of IUU prevention and control efforts across the province. Existing shortcomings identified by the Central Interdisciplinary Inspection Team must be promptly addressed, with a report submitted to the Provincial People’s Committee before January 23, 2026.

The department is also responsible for effectively managing and operating the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), resolutely preventing fishing vessels from illegally crossing into foreign waters.

Tightening Licensing, Traceability, and Export Controls

The province has directed the acceleration of issuance and re-issuance of fishing licenses for eligible vessels, alongside the substantive implementation of the electronic seafood traceability system (eCDT) and electronic logbooks (e-logbook). Export consignments of seafood destined for the EU market will be subject to strict inspection and control.

In parallel, the Department of Agriculture and Environment is assigned to develop a Sustainable Fisheries Development Plan for the 2026–2030 period, to be submitted to the Provincial People’s Committee for approval before January 25, 2026.

Enhanced Enforcement at Sea and in Ports

The Provincial Military Command and the Provincial Border Guard Command are instructed to intensify surveillance of fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters. Strict control over vessel entry and exit at ports is required, alongside coordinated patrols and inspections at fishing ports and landing sites, with violations of IUU regulations dealt with decisively.

Law Enforcement and Intersectoral Coordination

Provincial police will continue investigating and handling brokers and intermediaries involved in organizing illegal fishing activities in foreign waters. They will also coordinate reviews of certification and verification processes for seafood raw materials for export, ensuring strict punishment of violations.

Other departments—including Science and Technology, Justice, Inspectorate, Finance, Construction, and Foreign Affairs—have been assigned specific tasks to standardize fisheries data, upgrade fishing port infrastructure, allocate funding for IUU prevention, and ensure synchronized and unified management across sectors.

Local Governments Bear Direct Responsibility

The Provincial People’s Committee requires Party Secretaries and Chairpersons of People’s Committees of communes, wards and Phu Quy Special Zone with fishing vessels to take full and direct responsibility for IUU prevention and control in their localities. Local authorities must strictly manage vessels that do not meet operating conditions, severely handle cases of VMS signal loss or boundary violations, and ensure no new incidents of illegal fishing in foreign waters occur.

Ongoing Monitoring and Reporting

As the Standing Agency of the Provincial Steering Committee for IUU Prevention and Control, the Department of Agriculture and Environment is tasked with monitoring, urging implementation, consolidating results, and advising the Provincial People’s Committee in reporting to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in accordance with regulations.