Combating IUU Fishing: Quang Tri prosecutes violations; Quang Ninh implements effective and sustainable solutions
WVR - Following the Government's directive on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, coastal localities continue to strive to implement comprehensive measures, strictly handling violating fishing vessels and individuals...
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Quang Tri criminally prosecutes one case for IUU fishing violation
The Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance Department of Quang Tri province reported that in the week from December 30, 2025, to January 6, 2026, the provincial authorities fined an additional six fishing vessels for IUU fishing violations. Notably, the police are investigating to criminally prosecute the case of a fishing vessel owner who disabled the monitoring equipment to secretly exploit marine resources.
Specifically, in the past week, the authorities fined an additional six fishing vessels for IUU fishing violations, amounting to 81 million VND. Since 2024, 292 fishing vessels have been administratively sanctioned with a total fine of 7.176 billion VND; one case has been criminally prosecuted – Nguyen Van Hanh, residing in Dong Trach commune, Quang Tri province, captain of the fishing vessel QB 92083 TS – sentenced to three years in prison.
Recently, authorities discovered that the fishing vessel QB 92098 TS, owned by Ho Dang Quy, also from Dong Trach commune, disabled the monitoring equipment to secretly exploit marine resources. The provincial police are investigating to prosecute criminally according to regulations.
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| Quang Tri authorities seal and post notices on fishing vessels not meeting operational conditions. (Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper) |
According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quang Tri province, there are currently 135 fishing vessels in the province not meeting operational conditions and 19 vessels that no longer exist but have not been deregistered. To manage these vessels strictly, Quang Tri provincial leaders require the Chairman of the commune-level People's Committee managing fishing vessels to take direct and comprehensive responsibility for combating IUU fishing in the area; particularly, to prevent the emergence of "3 no" vessels, or vessels not meeting conditions but still operating.
The communes coordinate with the Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance Department to completely deregister the 19 vessels not meeting conditions and no longer existing; commit to sealing and posting management notices on vessels not meeting operational conditions, and assign officials to closely monitor them.
The Quang Tri provincial People's Committee requests the entire grassroots political system to promote responsibility, urging 100% of vessel owners with licensing conditions and operational needs to complete fishing vessel documentation procedures according to regulations.
Coastal communes accelerate the disbursement of subscription support fees for fishing vessel monitoring equipment to fishermen.
To soon lift the IUU "yellow card" and develop a sustainable fisheries sector, Quang Tri province promotes job transitions for workers on vessels no longer meeting operational conditions. In Nam Cua Viet commune, local authorities support residents in marine farming with over 800 hectares of aquaculture. Most residents are oriented towards sustainable aquaculture development.
Dang Huy Bang, Head of the Economic Department of Nam Cua Viet commune, stated: "The commune has proposed several solutions such as focusing on reviewing aquaculture zoning, initially stabilizing existing aquaculture areas; continuing to develop sustainable two-to-three-stage shrimp farming models. The commune encourages the construction of sedimentation ponds for high-tide ponds, ensuring conditions for intensive farming in a sustainable direction".
Quang Tri province directs that degraded fishing vessels unable to meet safety and technical requirements or no longer needed for exploitation will be supported in procedures for sale or transition to alternative livelihoods. The rate of fishing vessels in the locality licensed for fisheries exploitation exceeds 98%.
Quang Ninh: 100% of fishing vessels licensed for fisheries exploitation
Following the Government's directive on combating IUU fishing, Quang Ninh province has promptly issued directives and implemented solutions for effective, sustainable fisheries exploitation, preventing and combating IUU fishing in line with the province's actual conditions and the European Commission's (EC) recommendations, particularly Prime Minister's Directive No. 198/CĐ-TTg on focusing on the peak month of combating IUU and sustainably developing Vietnam's fisheries sector.
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| Border forces coordinate with the coast guard to raise fishermen's awareness of combating IUU fishing at Bach Long Vi port. (Source: VNA) |
As of January 6, 2026, Quang Ninh province has 4,108 fishing vessels of 6 meters or more registered and updated 100% on the Vnfishbase system; the rate of fishing vessels licensed for fisheries exploitation reaches 100%; the rate of valid registration reaches 99.73%; data cleaning and updating 100% of ID information for 4,108/4,108 fishing vessel owners on the Vnfishbase system; verified and handled 68/68 fishing vessels losing VMS connection in 2025 (achieving 100%); processed procedures for over 2,051 fishing vessels/5,929 vessel trips through the eCDT system, monitoring 6,366 tons (accounting for 49.8% of the province's total fishing vessels, nearly 8.7% of total output)…
Ensuring 100% of fishing vessels from 15m or more are synchronized on the VMS system; the rate of licensing for fisheries exploitation reaches 100.0%; the rate of verification and handling of fishing vessels losing VMS connection at sea reaches 100.0%. Violation handling has been strengthened, notably criminally prosecuting one case involving three defendants.
Since the beginning of 2025, the entire province has detected and handled 702 violation cases, fining over 8.229 billion VND, with all cases fully executing the Decision. The public investment program for the 2026-2030 period includes constructing three fishing ports at: Ha Tu Ward, Duong Hoa Commune, Van Don Special Zone; and investing in building two inspection vessels to enhance patrol and control capabilities over fisheries activities in the province,…
