Combating IUU Fishing: All fishing vessels in Hung Yen licensed for fisheries; Gia Lai operates smart warning system
WVR - The implementation of measures against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in various localities has been carried out decisively and comprehensively, achieving significant results.
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Hung Yen completes 18 tasks against IUU fishing
According to the report from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hung Yen Province, as of January 2, 2026, all 732 fishing vessels have been registered and updated on the Vnfishbase system; 100% of the vessels have been licensed for fisheries as per regulations. The province has publicly listed the fishing vessels that have been deregistered and updated on the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for functional forces to identify and control at sea.
From December 27, 2025, to January 2, 2026, there were 1,306 instances of fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, with the volume of seafood unloaded at the port exceeding 407 tons. Border guard stations coordinated with fish ports to guide vessel owners in completing entry and exit procedures via VneID. From December 1, 2025, to January 2, 2026, no fishing vessels lost connection for over 6 hours, over 10 days at sea, or violated fishing boundaries. Currently, Hung Yen has completed 18 tasks in combating IUU fishing. The Department of Agriculture and Environment has finalized a draft resolution on policies to support the dismantling of fishing vessels and replacing monitoring equipment for vessel owners in the province.
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| Interdisciplinary task force inspects at Tan Son fish port. (Source: Hung Yen Newspaper) |
Through practical inspection of fishing vessel management, entry and exit control, VMS equipment installation and monitoring, and administrative violation handling in the fisheries sector, especially violations of foreign waters, the interdisciplinary task force led by Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) Nguyen Quang Hung acknowledged and highly appreciated the results achieved by Hung Yen Province.
The task force also urged the province to continue strictly implementing IUU fishing regulations, focusing on controlling vessels entering and leaving ports, the volume of seafood landed, and the status of vessels losing VMS connection. They recommended maintaining strict management of vessels docked ashore that are unfit for fishing and studying the integration and synchronization of fishing vessel management software to enhance monitoring efficiency.
Gia Lai implements comprehensive measures
In strict adherence to the Government's directive on the peak period against IUU fishing, Gia Lai's authorities and sectors have been rigorously implementing comprehensive measures to tightly manage the fishing fleet, especially those unfit for operation, contributing to the country's efforts to lift the European Commission's “yellow card”.
According to the Fisheries Sub-department of Gia Lai Province, as of January 6, the entire province has 5,744 registered fishing vessels, with 100% updated on the VNFishbase system. All operational vessels have fishing licenses, fully complying with the Fisheries Law.
In coastal localities, vessels unfit for operation are managed under the “on-site control – daily update” model. These vessels have been concentrated at designated docking areas, marked with identification boards, and owners have pledged not to set sail. Local officials have photographed the vessels' current state and pinpointed their docking locations.
Nguyen Huu Nghia, Director of the Fisheries Sub-department of Gia Lai Province, stated that the department operates the Shore Station system 24/7 to closely monitor fishing vessels at sea via the VMS. They issue warnings and promptly contact vessel owners, their families, and captains when signs of VMS disconnection or boundary violations are detected, urging them to return to Vietnamese waters. They also notify vessel owners or their families and relevant border stations and localities for coordination when vessels return ashore.
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| Authorities monitor fish unloading activities at the port. (Source: VNA) |
“Since October 24, 2025, Gia Lai Province has also operated an intelligent automatic warning system, which displays, signals, and sends notifications immediately when vessels cross boundaries or experience prolonged disconnection. This has significantly reduced VMS disconnection incidents, with no cases of vessels losing VMS signal for over 6 hours in recent weeks,” Nghia added.
Currently, Gia Lai has three officially designated fish ports: Quy Nhon, De Gi, and Tam Quan, classified as Type II ports. According to monitoring by the authorities, all fishing vessels 15 meters or longer have docked at designated ports, with no incidents of vessels 15 meters or longer failing to unload products at the port as required.
Duong Mah Tiep, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, stated that alongside coastal localities, Gia Lai has implemented comprehensive and decisive measures against IUU fishing, completing all 19 tasks as directed by the Prime Minister. The province's focus moving forward is to continue tightly managing the fishing fleet, especially vessels unfit for fishing, ensuring they do not set sail, and controlling 100% of vessels entering and leaving ports.
However, there remain systemic and objective challenges, such as vessels operating outside the province, legal regulations related to vessel modification, and VMS connection quality. These issues require inter-agency support, coordination, and policy adjustments from the central government to thoroughly address and meet the EC's requirements in lifting the IUU “yellow card”.
