Peak of anti-IUU fishing: Resolute action to achieve real results

To effectively combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and prepare for the 5th working session with the European Commission (EC) Inspection Team on removing the IUU “yellow card” warning, on the morning of August 28, the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee held a ceremony to launch a peak emulation campaign against IUU fishing. At the ceremony, leaders of departments, branches and 25 coastal localities in the province signed a pact to compete to effectively combat IUU fishing.

Need to resolutely handle the existing problems

After nearly 8 years of implementing the fight against IUU fishing after the EC issued the IUU “yellow card” warning for Vietnam’s seafood exports, together with coastal localities across the country, the province has resolutely implemented many measures to end violations in seafood exploitation, with the goal of developing a sustainable and responsible seafood industry. The removal of the EC’s “yellow card” not only brings great benefits to the development of the fisheries economy , but also develops the livelihoods of tens of thousands of fishermen in the province. Removing the IUU “yellow card” during the 5th time the EC inspection delegation visited Vietnam to inspect the implementation of the EC’s recommendations on seafood exports is a key factor to ensure that Vietnam’s seafood products continue to be exported to the European market and demonstrate Vietnam’s responsibility in complying with international regulations on fisheries management, enhancing the image and reputation of Vietnamese seafood in the international market.

Khanh Hoa fishermen exploit aquatic products in the open sea.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Chanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment said: “Over the past years, the province has made great political determination, strictly implementing the instructions of the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister, and the National Steering Committee on IUU to remove the EC's "yellow card". After nearly 8 years, with the participation of the entire political system, Khanh Hoa province has drastically and synchronously implemented many solutions to improve the effectiveness of fisheries management, public awareness and tighten patrolling, monitoring, and increase handling of administrative violations; at the same time, supporting fishermen to switch to responsible and sustainable fishing. The positive results in the province's anti-IUU fishing work have been highly appreciated by inspection teams of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ".

Although many positive results have been achieved, the province's anti-IUU fishing work still has certain difficulties and shortcomings, which will more or less affect the effort to remove the IUU "yellow card" warning. Specifically, up to now, in the province, there are still 5 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more that have not installed equipment to monitor fishing vessels; 98 fishing vessels have not been granted or have had their fishing licenses renewed; 52 fishing vessels have not been granted or have expired food safety certificates for fishing vessels; nearly 500 fishing vessels have expired technical safety certificates. In addition, there are still some shortcomings in the management of fishing vessels; inspection and supervision of fishing vessel activities and the effectiveness of law enforcement in the fisheries sector... These shortcomings and limitations need to be overcome immediately to remove the IUU "yellow card".

Don't let "hot above, cold below"

Speaking at the launch of the peak emulation campaign against IUU fishing, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Trinh Minh Hoang emphasized: Do not let "the top be hot, the bottom be cold" and must mobilize the synchronous and drastic participation of the entire political system, from the province to the grassroots level, in the fight against IUU fishing, with the spirit of "Decisive action - substantial results". This is a great political determination and strong commitment of the province to work with the whole country to soon remove the IUU "yellow card", develop a sustainable, modern fisheries industry, and integrate with the international community.

Khanh Hoa fishermen dock at Hon Ro port to bring seafood for sale.

As of early August 2025, the whole province had 5,272 fishing vessels with a length of 6m or more, 100% of which were registered and had their data updated to the Vnfishbase database system; 99.72% of fishing vessels had been licensed to exploit aquatic products; 99.54% of 1,514 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more had installed fishing vessel monitoring equipment (VMS)... The total number of vessels entering and leaving the port was 16,361, the total output of aquatic products exploited through the ports inspected and controlled reached 23,454 tons. The authorities inspected and issued 384 certificates of aquatic raw materials with 7,094 tons of seafood, and issued certificates of exploited aquatic products for 153 shipments with an output of 2,058 tons of seafood. Khanh Hoa is the first locality in the country to apply the Electronic Traceability System for Exploited Aquatic Products (eCDT software) to monitor and control transparency and legality according to regulations on the work of confirming and certifying the origin of exploited aquatic products...

To effectively carry out the work of combating IUU fishing, contributing to the whole country in removing the EC's "yellow card" warning of IUU, the Provincial IUU Steering Committee requires all levels, sectors, localities and fishing communities in the province to uphold the sense of responsibility, voluntarily comply with the law, carry out legal exploitation, be responsible for aquatic resources and sustainable development, resolutely not participate in or assist in IUU fishing. The functional forces synchronously deploy patrol, supervision and strict handling measures, ensuring compliance with legal regulations. The authorities of coastal localities must directly direct, control and strictly manage the fleet of unqualified vessels, proactively propagate and mobilize, not allowing local fishing vessels to violate IUU regulations. Each fisherman must truly be a "pioneer" on the front line against IUU fishing, joining hands to maintain the prestige and image of the province's fisheries sector.

At the launching ceremony, the leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Police and the People's Committees of 25 communes, wards and special zones with sea in the province signed an emulation agreement to effectively carry out the task of combating IUU fishing, with the main contents such as: Strengthening propaganda work so that every citizen and every fisherman clearly understands and voluntarily implements the regulations against IUU fishing for the goal of sustainable development of the fisheries sector; strengthening coordination, cooperation and information sharing among forces, ensuring strict control of all fishing activities in the province, especially fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for operation; ensuring that 100% of fishing vessels before leaving port or arriving at port are controlled and carry out procedures in accordance with regulations; strictly handling and publicizing IUU violations, including criminal prosecution if there are sufficient elements; absolutely ensuring that fishing vessels and fishermen of Khanh Hoa province do not violate foreign waters...

HAI LANG - THANH XUAN

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/202508/cao-diem-chong-khai-thac-iuu-quyet-liet-hanh-dong-de-dat-hieu-qua-thuc-chat-28866da/