Overcoming IUU yellow card: An Giang strictly handles violations

Together with relevant agencies and units, the An Giang Border Guard plays a very important key role in the frontline against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in An Giang province. The "Green-uniformed soldiers" not only manage and strictly control fishing vessel activities, but also directly propagate and accompany fishermen to prevent IUU violations and protect aquatic resources in fishing grounds.

Báo Tin Tức•06/12/2025

Photo caption — Small fishing boats anchored at An Thoi Fishing Port. Photo: Le Huy Hai/VNA

Determined to join hands with the whole country to remove the European Commission's (EC) "Yellow Card" warning for Vietnamese seafood, the An Giang Border Guard Command has identified it as a particularly important political task for the Vietnamese seafood industry to develop sustainably and improve the exploitation efficiency of fishermen.

Over the past time, the An Giang Border Guard has resolutely and synchronously implemented solutions to prevent and combat IUU, especially investigating, verifying, and handling fishing vessels violating foreign waters. This is a complex and diverse problem of violations, from illegal fishing, illegal immigration to oil smuggling, violations of regulations on vessel monitoring equipment (VMS)...

According to the An Giang Border Guard Command, the unit investigated, verified, and handled 27 fishing vessels violating foreign waters in 2024 - 2025. The cases of fishing vessels being arrested by foreign authorities have posed many challenges and difficulties in the investigation and handling work. The fishing vessels not only violated exploitation but also smuggled oil and had their vehicles confiscated; when arrested, the vessel's registration was removed, the crew working on the vessel when returned to Vietnam was not present in the locality; violated VMS; no official registration information of the vessel; no fishing itinerary; did not receive the handling results from foreign authorities regarding the arrested fishing vessels and crew members...

An Giang Border Guard actively investigates and strictly handles fishing vessels violating foreign waters, aiming to raise fishermen's awareness, while at the same time propagating and educating fishermen to clearly understand the legal and economic consequences of violating IUU, determined to thoroughly resolve the situation of fishing vessels violating foreign waters.

In order to thoroughly resolve IUU cases, An Giang Border Guards carry out strict procedures, from receiving information, coordinating with competent authorities to verify ship owners, operations at sea, registration status, VMS information to handling and recommending handling of other violations.

Colonel Nguyen Van Hiep, Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, Political Commissar of the Border Guard Command of An Giang province, shared that the unit strictly followed the directions of the Government, the Ministry of National Defense , the Border Guard Command, the Provincial Party Committee and the People's Committee of An Giang province, and focused on and synchronously deployed measures to prevent and combat IUU.

Specifically, propaganda combined with increased inspection and control, resolutely not allowing fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions to operate fishing vessels leaving port. Deploying a peak emulation campaign to prevent and combat IUU fishing, the unit organized more than 200 patrols and inspections with about 1,000 officers participating, checking over 1,000 vehicles and about 5,000 fishermen. The authorities discovered 27 violations, involving 27 vessels and 34 IUU violators.

To prevent IUU violations, especially fishing vessels violating foreign waters, An Giang Border Guard continues to synchronously implement solutions to strictly manage vessels. The unit is determined not to allow fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate in aquatic products to leave port; closely coordinate with local authorities to firmly grasp and strictly manage fishing vessels at high risk of IUU violations, vessels that have lost connection for a long time or vessels that are not qualified to operate. Fishing vessels that are not licensed or registered will have a sign "Fishing vessel not qualified to operate".

In addition, the An Giang Border Guard has stepped up patrolling at sea, especially hunting down "3 no" fishing vessels and vessels that have been deregistered but still deliberately exploit aquatic resources. At the same time, it has strictly organized verification when carrying out procedures for vessels leaving and entering ports, ensuring that 100% of fishing vessels when leaving ports have full procedures, documents and equipment according to regulations.

Although the An Giang Border Guard has coordinated with functional forces and localities to strengthen propaganda and inspection, the situation of IUU fishing vessels still recurs. The underlying cause is that some fishermen ignore warnings to take fishing vessels to illegally exploit aquatic products in foreign waters; economic pressure, immediate benefits and the need to repay bank loans; the problem of rampant exploitation, the use of electric shock and banned fishing gear leading to the gradual depletion of aquatic resources in domestic fishing grounds and ineffective exploitation...

In addition, the work of controlling and handling violations in the field also faces many challenges. The sea area of An Giang province is more than 63,000 km², with over 140 large and small islands, a coastline of more than 200 km with about 100 river mouths, estuaries, and beaches, and a very wide area of border control. On the other hand, difficulties in patrolling means have had an adverse effect on coordination with other forces to patrol and control the closed sea area. Violators often take advantage of this complex terrain to avoid control by the authorities.

To contribute to the whole country in removing the "Yellow Card", the An Giang Border Guard Command emphasized that it will continue to strictly implement the instructions and strengthen consultation and proposals to amend, supplement and perfect legal documents related to combating IUU. The unit will step up law enforcement, increase patrols and controls, coordinate with competent authorities to investigate, verify and strictly handle organizations, businesses and individuals who violate the law.

Advise localities to re-plan the fleet, reduce vessels that do not meet regulations and strictly manage fishing licenses. Complete the VMS system to promptly detect, warn and handle fishing vessels that violate regulations. Coordinate with localities to research solutions, create conditions for fishermen to change their occupation, from fishing to sustainable farming, combined with environmental protection and marine tourism development.

Colonel Nguyen Van Hiep stated that, with the spirit of closely following the Prime Minister 's direction and identifying the fight against IUU as a key task, the An Giang Border Guard is making maximum and drastic efforts to not only minimize violations but also help fishermen stay at sea, develop long-term livelihoods, and move towards a sustainable development of Vietnam's fisheries industry, with the immediate goal of removing the EC's "Yellow Card".

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