Three-pronged approach to remove the "yellow card": Decisive action before the "D-Day"

Combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has become a central, urgent, and decisive task for the entire political system.

Báo Nhân dân•02/11/2025

Vietnamese coast guard officers approach and inspect a fishing vessel in the waters bordering Vietnam and Thailand.

Maritime law enforcement forces, with the Vietnam Coast Guard as the core, are stepping up their efforts with a "three-pronged approach": Propaganda - Support - Inspection and supervision, helping fishermen voluntarily comply with the law and develop sustainable livelihoods.

Entrusted by the Ministry of National Defence as the core force in combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, the Vietnam Coast Guard is working day and night in coordination with other forces to implement comprehensive and decisive solutions, striving to completely end IUU violations by November 15th.

Peak month

The peak month for combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as mandated by Prime Minister 's Directive No. 198/CĐ-TTg dated October 17, 2025, is entering its "final sprint" phase. The Vietnam Coast Guard is urgently and decisively implementing its action plan, determined to end IUU fishing violations ahead of schedule. Six Coast Guard vessels and three Border Guard vessels have been reinforced and added to patrol and control teams operating across the country's waters to combat IUU fishing.

According to Major General Le Dinh Cuong, Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard, under the close direction of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, and directly the Steering Committee of the Ministry of National Defense on combating IUU fishing, during the peak period from August 1st to September 2nd, the Coast Guard inspected, detected, and arrested 10 cases/14 vessels/123 fishermen violating the law.

Specifically: 7 cases/11 fishing vessels/109 fishermen seriously violated IUU regulations, and 7 other fishing vessels had their vessel tracking systems (VMS) confiscated. Inspections, reports, and administrative penalties for IUU violations at sea were conducted in 68 cases/71 vessels/78 individuals, with total fines amounting to nearly 460 million VND. The task force deployed personnel to call back 1,215 fishing vessels that had lost VMS signal connection; the daily rate of vessels reactivating their VMS equipment averaged 78%, and the rate of vessels equipped with VMS reached over 99% of those required to install it.

From October 28th, the forces organized into multiple teams comprising the Coast Guard, Border Guard, Fisheries Inspectorate, and permanent militia to coordinate actions. Each week, 50 to 60 boats and vessels operate, both patrolling and monitoring, and combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing. The goal is to completely end the situation of fishing vessels violating regulations by November 15th.

In the southwestern sea, the hottest spot for IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, under the cover of darkness, the CSB 4039 and its squadron vessels continue their tireless patrols. Upon spotting a suspicious vessel, the ship approaches, deploys a lifeboat within a designated laser beam, and a team of officers and crew members board the fishing boat amidst the choppy waves.

During the administrative inspection, the ship and its crew were found to have all the necessary documents. The officers took the opportunity to educate the crew and have the ship owner and captain sign a commitment not to violate regulations. When asked about fishing practices, fisherman Bui Van Cung, captain of the fishing vessel KG 93638 TS, residing in An Giang , confidently replied: “The Coast Guard officers have already told us, and we listen. We earn what we can on our own; we must not violate the law.”

Major General Nguyen Van Dung, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region 4 Command, said that officers and soldiers of the unit are mobilizing maximum forces, determined to join the whole country in removing the IUU "yellow card" before the important inspection by the European Commission. From mid-October until now, dozens of ships and boats will patrol day and night in key sea areas. The surveillance system is strictly maintained, all activities of fishing vessels are monitored 24/7, and cases of potential encroachment on foreign waters are detected early and handled promptly.

The unit's officers and soldiers are mobilizing their full strength, determined to join the rest of the country in removing the IUU "yellow card" before the crucial inspection by the European Commission.
Major General Nguyen Van Dung, Secretary of the Party Committee,
Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region 4 Command

Taking decisive action against violations, on October 27th, the People's Court of An Giang province held a first-instance trial of a criminal case, sentencing two defendants, Nguyen Nhat Linh, captain of fishing vessel KG-90937-TS, to 4 years in prison, and Tran Quoc Nam, captain of fishing vessel KG90143-TS, to 3 years in prison for the crime of "obstructing or disrupting the operation of computer networks, telecommunication networks, and electronic devices" as stipulated in Point e, Clause 2, Article 287 of the Penal Code. The two defendants committed the crime of turning off their vessel's navigation equipment to take their ships to Malaysian waters to fish. The trial had a very effective educational and deterrent effect. The Vietnam Coast Guard has established a communication mechanism with relevant agencies of countries sharing a maritime border to coordinate operations.

From the beginning of 2025 to the present, the Command of Coast Guard Region 4 has sent 7 letters and received 6 letters from the Cambodian Forward Tactical Command regarding the situation of illegal fishing vessel operations, fishing ground disputes; illegal entry and exit at sea; search and rescue, marine environmental protection; violations, crimes, smuggling; and tasks related to terrorism, security, order, and safety...

Supporting fishermen and creating a strong, lasting foundation.

According to Lieutenant General Bui Quoc Oai, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Vietnam Coast Guard, the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and the Head of the Vietnam Coast Guard have focused on leading and directing the entire force to decisively, comprehensively, and synchronously implement solutions to combat IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, paying attention to propaganda, guidance, and assistance to fishermen to change their awareness and production methods, gradually building a responsible marine exploitation system linked to protecting maritime sovereignty and islands, mobilizing the participation of local Party committees and authorities; contributing to preventing and minimizing the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels violating foreign waters.

The "Coast Guard Accompanying Fishermen" program was launched in 2017 and has been regularly maintained in key maritime areas such as Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, etc., receiving active support from various units and organizations.

To enhance the visual impact of propaganda efforts, the Military Court of Military Region 9 held three mock trials to try several maritime law violations, handing down prison sentences ranging from 3 to 8 years... Attending the mock trial, fisherman Nguyen Van Bach from Tran De commune, Can Tho city, shared: "Hearing the sentences of several years in prison, I finally understood the price to pay for violating the law while fishing, and learned from it for my own future at sea."

Maritime law enforcement forces have numerous social welfare programs and models to support fishermen in developing production and stabilizing their lives. These include programs such as "Coast Guard accompanying fishermen," "Coast Guard with ethnic and religious communities," the nationwide "I love the sea and islands of my homeland" competition; "Helping children go to school" by the Vietnam Coast Guard; "Solidarity teams at sea" under the guidance of the Fisheries Inspectorate; "Safe boat teams," "Self-managed docks and harbors," "Families and religions not violating IUU," and "Spring border guard activities warming the hearts of fishermen" by the Border Guard, helping fishermen support each other in life, share fishing ground information, jointly monitor violations, and contribute to minimizing IUU violations.

The permanent militia squadrons, in coordination with the Navy, organized more than 300 patrols in key sea areas, combating IUU fishing, and encouraging fishermen to abide by maritime laws.

All of this is aimed at lifting the IUU "yellow card" before the deadline, practically contributing to the country's economic development and building a sustainable fisheries and marine economy.

(To be continued)

NINH CO - DUC TINH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ba-mui-giap-cong-go-the-vang-quyet-liet-truc-gio-g-post920108.html