Stopping IUU, Nghe An moves towards sustainable fisheries

With determination, Nghe An carried out 19 anti-IUU missions, completed 14 missions; tightened management of fishing vessels, installed VMS, traced origins and provided sustainable support to fishermen.

From registration to VMS, no more 'blind zones'

On November 18, 2025, when the whole country connected at the online meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, the image of Nghe An clearly emerged as a locality that is determined, systematic, and has both focus and specific solutions.

At the Nghe An bridge, the provincial leaders reported some telling figures. Specifically, of the 19 assigned tasks, Nghe An province has completed 14 tasks, and is focusing on implementing 5 tasks - a remarkable result in the context of very high technical, legal and administrative requirements.

Fishing boats in Tan Mai ward, Nghe An province. Photo: Dinh Tiep.

First of all, Nghe An province has invested heavily in systematizing fishing vessel data. The registration and updating of all vessels on Vnfishbase has reached an almost absolute rate; fishing licenses are checked, reviewed and revoked for unqualified vessels.

Data synchronization eliminates “ghost” fishing vessels – vessels that exist on the books but are not accountable when operating offshore – and ensures that each vessel has a transparent, traceable record. This is the foundation for implementing more advanced measures such as VMS monitoring and port production traceability.

Next, the patrol, control and port authority forces in Nghe An have increased the effectiveness of controlling ships entering and leaving the port. Over the past week, the force has monitored thousands of ships, closely checked port departures and arrivals, and monitored fishing output according to the eCDT system.

This is not only a technical action but also creates an administrative barrier to prevent illegal seafood from entering the official supply chain. At the same time, Nghe An province closely coordinates with the Border Guard to separate fishing vessels, ensuring that 100% of vessels entering and leaving the port are controlled, minimizing management loopholes.

Another bright spot is the handling of vessels that lose VMS connection and vessels that cross the fishing boundary. The aggregated data shows that provincial forces, including Nghe An, have detected and handled many cases of disconnection, moving towards the goal of handling 100% of the backlog. Nghe An province has built a process for reviewing, verifying and handling violations, and storing data on violating vessels for long-term management, a necessary step to prevent recurrence and build trust with export partners.

Fishermen's livelihoods and cross-sectoral responsibility - the key to removing the yellow card

However, the IUU problem is not just a matter of technical control. Nghe An province understands that if only administrative sanctions, requiring license revocation or banning offshore fishing without accompanying support policies will damage the livelihoods of fishermen. Therefore, Nghe An province has implemented policies to support upgrading and replacing VMS equipment, guiding the conversion of fishing vessels that are no longer in condition to operate, and coordinating with agencies to facilitate access to capital, training and restructuring of seafood production. The combination of strict sanctions and livelihood support is a humane yet resolute approach, aiming at the long-term goal of legal, sustainable and highly commercial seafood production.

Nghe An province is resolutely fighting against IUU fishing, aiming to develop sustainable fisheries. Photo: Dinh Tiep.

The inter-sectoral engagement of departments, sectors, border guards, coast guard and local authorities is key. Nghe An province does not act alone but implements synchronously, perfects the law on fishing vessel management, ensures data connection between ministries, checks, inspections, and most importantly, makes the entire chain from vessel - port - trader transparent. This approach both meets the technical requirements of international partners and strengthens domestic governance.

The efforts of Nghe An province in combating IUU fishing show a clear lesson that removing the yellow card is not a matter of one day or two, but a persistent journey between state management, technology and commitment to the people. Nghe An has chosen a path that is both drastic and humane, while maintaining fishermen's livelihoods, protecting aquatic resources and enhancing product reputation in the export market. When the data system is complete, VMS operates effectively, fishing ports are qualified and fishermen are supported in transition, we will not only remove the "yellow card" but also open up a sustainable future for the local fishing industry.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/chan-dung-iuu-nghe-an-huong-toi-nghe-ca-ben-vung-d785115.html