According to the Fisheries Surveillance Operations Division, this assistance project represents a strategic milestone - laying the groundwork for long term cooperation between FAO and Viet Nam in general, and between FAO and the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance in particular, in implementing measures to prevent illegal fishing. FAO representatives have clarified that the project’s key priorities during 2025 - 2026 will include supporting Viet Nam in assessing and analyzing the current legal and institutional framework, identifying existing gaps, and determining specific areas for assistance to enable Viet Nam to develop a comprehensive National Strategy and Action Plan for PSMA implementation.
On 29 September 2025, FAO officially issued a Notification Letter confirming its support for Viet Nam, along with a proposed detailed budget. The list of proposed activities, prepared within the framework of project GCP/GLO/1253/EC, is currently indicative in nature. The final scope of work will be finalized following a thorough technical review and assessment by FAO. This initial phase carries strong strategic significance, serving as the foundation for subsequent collaborative initiatives. The total estimated budget for FAO’s assistance to the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) is approximately USD 143,000. FAO has committed to directly coordinating and disbursing all funds related to the implementation of activities supporting Viet Nam, with the implementation period extending from project approval through 31 December 2026.
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The specific activities planned for Viet Nam fall under Outcome 2 of the project: Strengthening the Capacity of Developing States to Implement the PSMA. The first and most crucial component involves International Technical Assistance (ITA), aimed at producing a comprehensive analytical report that identifies critical gaps and needs. This report will serve as the cornerstone for developing Viet Nam’s National Strategy and Action Plan. The importance of this analysis cannot be overstated, it will help Viet Nam reshape its priorities and define future technical assistance requirements.
A particular focus of this work is on the responsibilities of the flag State. This encompasses improvements to administrative, policy, legal, and operational frameworks governing vessel registration, licensing, monitoring, and control. The ultimate goal is to align these frameworks with international standards and obligations that Viet Nam has committed to under global fisheries governance regimes. Concurrently, efforts will also target strengthening port State, coastal State, and market State measures - an inherently multi-dimensional task requiring close synchronization across administrative levels and across all categories of national responsibility as defined under international law.
In addition to the strategic gap analysis, the project places strong emphasis on consolidating Viet Nam’s legal and operational instruments. Accordingly, FAO will also assist in conducting a comprehensive review of the Vietnamese legal framework related to combating IUU fishing. The objective is to identify areas for improvement, ensuring the domestic legal system not only complies with PSMA obligations but is also sufficiently robust to address the increasingly complex and sophisticated nature of IUU violations. This review process is essential to strengthen Viet Nam’s legal preparedness for both enforcement and deterrence in the fisheries sector.
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Equally important to legislative refinement is the need to reinforce on-site monitoring and control mechanisms. The ITA component, along with broader capacity-building activities, will help establish an efficient Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) system. This system must empower Viet Nam to meet its responsibilities in all four key capacities as a flag State, coastal State, port State, and market State. A key priority under this project is enhancing coordination among all relevant governmental agencies. The overall success of PSMA implementation and the fight against IUU fishing largely depends on the degree of coherence, collaboration, and seamless information sharing across authorities.
In the digital era, accurate and timely information exchange forms the backbone of any international compliance system. Beyond technical assistance, the project will also provide support for developing and strengthening information exchange mechanisms to ensure compatibility with the Global Information Exchange System (GIES) under the PSMA framework. These mechanisms are expected to link directly with Viet Nam’s National Single Window system for vessel monitoring and control. This integration not only enhances the efficiency of fisheries control operations but also ensures transparency and adherence to global standards. Strengthening national-level data exchange, including integration with the GIES platform and its E-PSM module, stands out as one of the most promising future initiatives based on the strong cooperative spirit between Viet Nam and FAO.
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Although the current project timeline extends only until 31 December 2026, both parties have agreed on a shared long-term vision for continued collaboration beyond this period. Successful cooperation under the current project phase will pave the way for sustained technical support in subsequent stages. This ongoing partnership is expected to facilitate a wide range of future activities, including FAO’s long-term support for Vietnamese officials to participate in international training and capacity-building programs, provision of specialized technical assistance on legal frameworks and MCS systems, and identification of additional activities based on continuous technical engagement.
The effective implementation of these planned activities will lay a solid foundation for future initiatives, anchoring Viet Nam’s progress in aligning with international commitments, strengthening its institutional and legal frameworks, and contributing meaningfully to the global effort to eliminate IUU fishing through the full and effective implementation of the PSMA.
Huong Tra (Hai Dang translated)