To combat IUU fishing effectively

Officers and soldiers of the Coast Guard Region 3 Command in coordination with functional units and forces organize inspections of IUU fishing prevention and control work for fishing vessels operating at sea. Photo: ANH NGOC

Change in compliance consciousness

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Phu Yen currently has nearly 3,000 fishing vessels registered on the national fisheries database system, of which 681 are 15m or longer. The number of vessels marked as fishing vessels reached 100%; the number of fishing vessels installed with voyage monitoring equipment (VMS) according to regulations was 677/681 (reaching 99.41%), while 4 vessels have not installed VMS equipment because they are damaged, lying on shore, not operating...

The fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in coastal localities in the province has had many positive changes, and fishermen's awareness of complying with regulations on fishing has been raised. However, there are still some difficulties and problems in the fight against IUU fishing. According to the People's Committee of Song Cau Town, there are currently two traditional fishing ports in Xuan Canh and Xuan Hai communes in the town. These fishing ports have existed for a long time, convenient for small fishing boats under 12m, fishing close to shore, to anchor, depart and unload seafood. However, local management at these traditional fishing ports has encountered some difficulties, this has been a problem for many years in the town.

Coastal departments, sectors and localities must carefully prepare the program, content and working plan with the 5th EC Inspection Team according to the instructions of the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing; to be completed before August 31, 2025.

Comrade Ho Thi Nguyen Thao, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee

Mr. Pham Van Nguyen, Vice Chairman of Song Cau Town People's Committee, said: The loading and unloading of aquatic products at these two fishing ports has been monitored, recorded, and the output of exploited aquatic products has been statistically calculated, however, the monitoring rate of fishing vessels entering and leaving and aquatic product output is not high. Since April 2024, Xuan Canh and Xuan Hai communes have installed surveillance cameras at the two above-mentioned fishing ports to manage and monitor the entry and exit of the ports. Through camera extraction, so far, no cases of fishing vessels of 15m or more have been detected docking at these two ports to load and unload aquatic products.

Mr. Lu Ngoc Lam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: With the drastic participation of the entire political system from the province to the grassroots level, the fight against IUU fishing in Phu Yen has had many positive changes. From 2019 to now, no fishing vessels from Phu Yen violating the exploitation of aquatic products in foreign waters have been arrested or handled. The province has also deployed the e-CDT software application to inspect and control fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, monitor the output of aquatic products unloaded through the port, and trace the origin of exploited aquatic products. Fishing vessels that lose VMS connection and exceed the permitted boundary at sea are contacted by competent agencies and units to restore the VMS connection and return the vessel to the waters under Vietnam's sovereignty to exploit aquatic products...

However, fishing vessels still violate fishing regulations, such as fishing on the wrong route or losing connection to VMS during fishing. Since the beginning of the year, the provincial authorities have recorded and administratively sanctioned 15 cases with a fine of more than 400 million VND.

Officers and soldiers of Coast Guard Region 3 Command inspect fishing boats operating at sea. Photo: ANH NGOC

Urgently address EC recommendations

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province has directed departments, sectors and coastal localities to resolutely implement solutions to overcome the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) on combating IUU fishing. At the same time, strictly implement the provisions of the 2017 Fisheries Law and documents guiding the implementation of the law as well as the central and provincial directives on combating IUU fishing.

Up to now, the province has counted about 400 fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU regulations. Departments, branches and localities have implemented the solution of "going to every alley, knocking on every door", meeting each vessel owner to mobilize and support the implementation of records and procedures to ensure the completion of inspection, issuance of fishing licenses, certificates of facilities meeting food safety conditions for fishing vessels, and installation of voyage monitoring equipment according to regulations. At the same time, stop means of transport that do not register fishing vessels but still leave fishing gear on board; implement management, monitoring and update on the operating status and anchorage locations of local fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for fishing activities...

Mr. Nguyen Van Hong, Vice Chairman of Dong Hoa Town People's Committee, said: In recent times, Dong Hoa Town has been very determined in implementing the fight against IUU fishing. The locality continues to invest in infrastructure serving the fishing industry, mobilizing fishermen to strictly comply with the provisions of the Fisheries Law, regulations on IUU fishing, and handling and recommending strict handling of violations in fishing. However, the most difficult task at present is the management of fishing vessels operating at sea. The provincial departments and agencies need to continue to coordinate with the locality in the management and sharing of information on fishing vessel activities.

According to Mr. Ha Vien, Director of Phu Yen Fishing Port Management Board, there are currently 11 traditional fishing ports in the province managed by the locality, mainly fishing vessels under 12m docking and departing as well as loading and unloading aquatic products at these fishing ports. Localities with traditional fishing ports need to strengthen the management and supervision of fishing vessel activities, update fishing output and strictly handle violations. Phu Yen Fishing Port Management Board continues to coordinate with functional agencies and localities to guide fishermen to keep fishing logs in accordance with regulations such as net dropping coordinates, net dropping time, fish pulling time, etc.

At a recent meeting, comrade Ho Thi Nguyen Thao, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested departments, branches and coastal localities to strictly implement the central and provincial directives on combating IUU fishing. The Department of Agriculture and Environment was assigned to regularly review, update and notify the list of unqualified fishing vessels, organize monitoring, management and strictly handle violations. For fishing vessels that have not installed VMS equipment or fishing vessels that frequently lose VMS signal connection, the locality is responsible for mobilizing the installation and maintenance of the equipment in accordance with regulations.

"The Department of Agriculture and Environment continues to coordinate with the border guards, police and relevant agencies and localities to increase patrols, inspections and control of fishing vessels at sea, river mouths and at fishing ports; strictly handle violations in fishing activities, focusing on violations of VMS, permitted fishing areas at sea, fishing licenses, inspections and registration of fishing vessels," comrade Ho Thi Nguyen Thao directed.

In addition, departments, branches and localities continue to monitor, detect, receive, verify information, thoroughly handle and update the results of handling fishing vessels violating IUU fishing; closely monitor fishing vessels at risk of violating IUU fishing; closely monitor the output and origin of aquatic products from fishing. Organize reviews and remove from the list of fishing vessels that have switched to serving aquaculture and do not participate in fishing; resolutely do not allow unqualified fishing vessels to leave port and participate in fishing; propose solutions for better management of traditional fishing ports. The provincial police consider and handle according to regulations cases of intentional violations, which have been repeatedly propagated and reminded by local authorities and agencies but do not comply with regulations on exploitation and protection of aquatic resources, and do not overcome the EC's recommendations on IUU fishing.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/kinh-te/202505/dechong-khai-thac-iuu-dat-hieu-qua-cao-0430435/