Mock Trial on IUU Fishing held in Nghe An province
WVR - On December 27, in Cua Lo Ward (Nghe An), Regional Court 1, in collaboration with Cong Ly Newspaper and related units, organized a mock trial on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
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| The mock trial on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nghe An. (Source: Cong Ly Newspaper) |
The trial reenacted a typical case, clarifying actions that could lead to criminal prosecution, while raising legal awareness among fishermen, contributing to the prevention of IUU, protecting fisheries, and ensuring the sustainable development of Nghe An's marine areas.
The trial included the participation of defendants and followed all procedural steps: indictment announcement, questioning, debate, deliberation, and sentencing. All scenarios were constructed to reflect real-life situations, clearly illustrating ongoing violations in fisheries exploitation, helping attendees understand the legal consequences of each action.
The uniqueness of the trial lies not only in its format but also in its approach to making the law accessible to fishermen's lives. Instead of dry legal briefings, regulations were “narrated” through specific cases, making them easier for the public to understand, remember, and clearly identify what constitutes a violation and the legal boundaries not to be crossed.
Witnessing the trial, many fishermen admitted that only by directly observing the proceedings did they fully comprehend the responsibility of adhering to the law in fisheries exploitation. Consequently, there was a marked improvement in their legal compliance awareness, contributing to the protection of fisheries and sustainable development of Nghe An's marine areas.
A key focus of the mock trial was the criminalization of violations in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The trial reenacted scenarios involving actions with criminal elements, such as “Organizing illegal exits for others” or “Disrupting electronic device operations” during fisheries exploitation.
Bringing these actions to trial demonstrated the determination of the Party and the State to perfect the legal framework, apply strong enough sanctions to deter and prevent violations, and strictly implement the European Commission's (EC) recommendations, aiming to lift the IUU “yellow card” for Vietnamese seafood.
During the mock trial, prosecuting agencies emphasized that if a ship owner or captain deliberately disrupts signals for six hours or more to conceal violations, they could face criminal charges. This point drew significant attention from fishermen, as there had been a complacent mindset that “signal loss” was merely a technical error or minor violation.
The trial clarified an important message: the boundary between administrative violations and criminal offenses in IUU fishing is now very clear, and any deliberate violation could result in criminal liability.
Beyond warnings, the trial conveyed a consistent message: combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is not solely the responsibility of authorities but a collective duty of the community.
The courts and the Procuracy ensure strict legal enforcement; local governments manage and direct closely; the Border Guard patrols, controls, and protects maritime sovereignty; while fishermen—the true owners of the sea—are the decisive force in the fight against IUU through their conscious legal compliance.
