Combating IUU fishing: Hung Yen takes decisive action, Dak Lak raises fishermen's awareness
WVR - Recently, many localities across the country have been implementing comprehensive solutions to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, determined to regain the "measure" of credibility from the European Union (EU) for Vietnam's seafood and aquatic products.
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Hung Yen streamlines aquatic and seafood exploitation activities
In the fight against IUU fishing, Hung Yen has been implementing various solutions to address shortcomings in port management, inspection, and monitoring of fishing activities, gradually bringing local aquatic and seafood exploitation activities into order.
As of now, the province has registered 730 fishing vessels and entered data into the national fisheries database VNFishbase, including 129 large transport vessels equipped with Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), achieving 100% compliance. In the first 11 months of 2025, authorities addressed violations involving 5 fishing vessels for VMS disconnection, 9 vessels operating in the wrong areas; other violations included the use and storage of electric shock tools, unregistered vessels, lack of required certificates, port violations, and incomplete fishing logs. All violations have been updated into the violation processing software as per regulations.
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| Border guards in Hung Yen patrol and control at Tan Son fishing port, Thai Thuy commune. (Source: Hung Yen Newspaper) |
Hoang Minh Giang, Director of the Department of Sea and Fisheries of Hung Yen province, stated that to tighten IUU fishing control, authorities have organized patrols, inspections, and monitoring of fishing vessels entering and exiting ports, operating at sea; strictly handling cases of vessels not meeting operational conditions (unregistered, unlicensed, lacking fishing permits...). Vessels losing VMS signals, deliberately disconnecting devices, or failing to report are strictly dealt with, marking them as key monitoring targets for authorities.
"In combating IUU fishing, Hung Yen has been implementing various solutions to address shortcomings in port management, inspection, and monitoring of fishing activities, gradually bringing local aquatic and seafood exploitation activities into order," emphasized Mr. Giang.
To support fishermen in venturing out to sea, the Department of Sea and Fisheries has actively managed and digitized 100% of fishing vessel activity information from departure, product unloading, registration, to the exploitation data system and fishermen's seafood output. The digitization of information from the VNFishbase system also helps residents conveniently track and save costs in seafood exploitation activities.
Recently, authorities (border guards, fisheries inspectors) in Hung Yen have intensified patrols, inspections, and monitoring at fishing ports and at sea, increasing the frequency of detection, completing dossiers, and imposing administrative penalties for violations.
Lieutenant Colonel Le Trong Anh, Head of Cua Lan Border Post, Command of Hung Yen Border Guard, stated that recently, border guards have regularly approached fishermen right at the anchorage and during sea patrols to disseminate laws, guiding fishermen to strictly comply with regulations, not violating foreign waters, and not using prohibited fishing gear.
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| Hung Yen has 730 registered fishing vessels with data entered into the national fisheries database VNFishbase. (Source: VOV) |
"Alongside patrols, propaganda and mobilization of fishermen are identified as the 'key'. The regular presence of border guards has become a reliable support for fishermen to confidently venture out to sea, develop livelihoods associated with protecting aquatic resources," emphasized Lieutenant Colonel Le Trong Anh.
Nguyen Duc Trong, Chairman of Thai Thuy commune, Hung Yen province, stated that the commune has 170 vessels with 778 workers at sea. The locality has coordinated with provincial border guards to enhance propaganda efforts and strictly handle IUU fishing violations. As a result, fishermen's compliance with seafood exploitation regulations has seen positive changes.
"We have mobilized 100% of vessel owners and captains to sign commitments not to violate IUU fishing, ensuring compliance with regulations on fishing areas, not fishing in foreign waters, and maintaining complete fishing logs," informed Mr. Trong.
Raising fishermen's awareness
To combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Dak Lak province focuses on raising fishermen's awareness. As a result, vessel owners, captains, and crew members understand that compliance with regulations will contribute to lifting the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card", aiming to build a modern, transparent, and sustainable fisheries sector.
Lieutenant Nguyen Tien Khanh, Hoa Hiep Nam Border Post (Dak Lak Border Guard), stated that recently, the post's forces have coordinated with localities to visit households to propagate and mobilize fishermen to strictly comply with IUU fishing regulations. Overall, most fishermen have become aware of their actions related to aquatic exploitation, ensuring the effectiveness of IUU fishing prevention and the upcoming EC inspection team.
Phan Van Tao, from Hoa Hiep ward (Dak Lak province), shared that he owns a vessel that recently expired registration. After being informed by local authorities and relevant agencies, he promptly re-registered before engaging in aquatic exploitation. With complete documentation, he feels secure operating at sea and pays attention to regulated fishing areas to catch oceanic tuna, avoiding foreign waters.
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| Through education and communication, vessel owners, captains, and crew members in Dak Lak province understand that compliance with regulations will contribute to lifting the EC's "yellow card", aiming to build a modern, transparent, and sustainable fisheries sector. (Source: People's Deputies newspaper) |
Dak Lak province currently has over 2,500 active fishing vessels; among them, 100% of vessels 15 meters or longer (687 vessels) have installed vessel monitoring systems. The control of fishing vessels entering and exiting ports is strictly enforced through the electronic seafood traceability system (eCDT). The province has also completed 101/101 tasks assigned by the Government related to combating IUU fishing. Additionally, authorities verify and strictly handle violations according to legal regulations.
During an IUU fishing inspection at fishing ports in the eastern area of Dak Lak province in October 2025, Nguyen Thien Van, Vice Chairman of Dak Lak People's Committee, stated: "The province has directed relevant forces to coordinate with coastal communes and wards to enhance propaganda efforts, support residents, and tightly manage vessels to prevent cross-border exploitation and unauthorized vessels from going to sea for fishing. Regarding cases of vessels transferring monitoring devices to other vessels against regulations, the province is determined to impose administrative penalties; repeat offenses will face criminal prosecution according to legal regulations."
Since the beginning of 2025, Dak Lak province has processed 11,620 fishing vessel entries and exits for aquatic exploitation; the exploitation output has exceeded 11,000 tons. Fishermen's awareness of combating IUU fishing has gradually improved, contributing to the country's efforts to lift the EC's "yellow card".
| On December 23, at the 27th session of the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested ministries, sectors, and localities to continue seriously and decisively implementing tasks assigned by the Secretariat, the Government, and the Prime Minister in combating IUU fishing to achieve the "dual goal" of lifting the EU's IUU yellow card and developing Vietnam's fisheries sector sustainably. The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to incorporate feedback from Steering Committee members to finalize the report and submit it to the EC by December 31, 2025; Continue regular exchanges, maintain close contact with the EC to promptly provide information when requested, report to the Government and the Prime Minister on matters beyond authority; continue to lead, coordinate with ministries and sectors to inspect and guide all coastal localities with fishing vessels to thoroughly prepare for the EC inspection team. |
