An Giang supports fishermen in upgrading their "surveillance cameras" to combat IUU fishing.

The issuance of policies to support fishermen in combating IUU fishing demonstrates the political determination and responsibility of An Giang province in working with the rest of the country to quickly resolve the EC's yellow card warning.

In a decisive effort to join hands with the whole country in lifting the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese fisheries, the People's Council of An Giang province has just passed a Resolution stipulating policies to support the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the province. The focus is on supporting fishing vessel owners to upgrade and replace vessel monitoring systems (VMS), helping fishermen modernize their equipment and ensure compliance with IUU regulations.

VMS devices are considered the "all-seeing eye" of fishing vessels when they venture out to sea, helping authorities manage and monitor their routes and prevent encroachment into foreign waters.

However, many fishing vessels currently have VMS equipment installed previously that no longer meets increasingly stringent technical requirements. Therefore, organizations and individuals owning fishing vessels with a maximum length of 15 meters or more registered in the province that installed VMS equipment before May 19, 2024, but currently do not meet the technical standards as stipulated in Government Decree No. 41/2026/ND-CP detailing some provisions and measures for implementing the Fisheries Law, will be supported in upgrading or replacing the equipment to ensure compliance with technical requirements.

For upgrading or replacing VMS equipment, the provincial budget will support 50% of the actual cost as per the invoice, but not exceeding 5 million VND per fishing vessel; for replacing VMS equipment, it will support 50% of the actual cost as per the invoice, but not exceeding 11 million VND per fishing vessel, with the remaining cost covered by the vessel owner.

This represents a shared responsibility between the State and the people, creating an incentive for fishermen to comply with the law, and this policy will be implemented from now until December 31, 2026.

To ensure that support policies reach the intended beneficiaries and to prevent exploitation, vessel owners must possess complete and valid legal documents as required by regulations, including a fishing vessel registration certificate, fishing license, fishing vessel technical safety certificate, etc.; they must not violate IUU regulations, must not cross maritime boundaries illegally, and must not intentionally disable VMS equipment (except in cases of force majeure).

After upgrading or replacing, the VMS equipment must ensure a stable connection with the fishing vessel monitoring system and fully meet the technical standards as stipulated in Decree No. 41/2026/ND-CP.

Each fishing vessel is only eligible for support once and must not have previously received similar support in other localities.

With this policy, An Giang not only demonstrates strong political determination in implementing the EC's recommendations but also affirms its role in supporting fishermen, striving to protect the reputation of Vietnamese seafood in the international market, and aiming for sustainable and responsible fisheries exploitation.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Chairman of the People's Council of An Giang province, emphasized that the issuance of policies to support the fight against IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing demonstrates the province's political determination and responsibility in working with the whole country to quickly lift the EC's yellow card warning.

This is not just a matter for the fisheries sector or the livelihoods of fishermen, but also directly relates to national prestige and Vietnam's commitment to the international community in developing responsible, sustainable fisheries that comply with international law.

The An Giang Provincial People's Council's resolution on supporting the fight against IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing focuses on upgrading and replacing VMS (Vehicle Monitoring System) equipment, helping fishermen reduce costs and feel more secure in complying with legal regulations on fishing activities in fishing grounds.

This is a concrete step to demonstrate Vietnam's determination to combat IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, thereby improving its image and international reputation. Especially by meeting EC requirements, Vietnamese seafood will have the opportunity for strong growth in Europe and other markets with strict product origin requirements.

According to the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment, to date, 100% of fishing vessels granted fishing licenses have installed VMS equipment. The remaining 9 fishing vessels that are docked and not engaged in fishing activities have updated their coordinates on Google Maps.

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(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/an-giang-ho-tro-ngu-dan-nang-cap-mat-than-chong-khai-thac-iuu-post1112352.vnp