Addressing the IUU 'yellow card'

Final article: Building sustainable fisheries and ensuring livelihoods for fishermen.

Photo caption — Checking the vessel's journey on the fishing vessel monitoring system at Ninh Co Fishing Port ( Ninh Binh province).

A pillar of support for fishermen.

Recognizing that the key to combating IUU fishing lies in raising awareness of law compliance among fishermen, functional agencies, associations, and professional organizations in Ninh Binh province have implemented diverse approaches in an effort to lift the EC's IUU yellow card by 2025.

Every day, dozens of boats and ships enter Ninh Co fishing port to complete import and export procedures. For more than a year, officials responsible for receiving import and export information have been guiding and promoting the use of the eCDT electronic logbook software among fishermen.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Chung, Director of the Fisheries Port Management Board under the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ninh Binh province, said that using this software is not only a step towards modernizing the management of the fisheries sector, supporting fishermen in quickly and accurately declaring information, and replacing manual paperwork. More importantly, it is an effective measure to combat IUU fishing, serving traceability and transparency of export products.

However, due to the specific nature of seafaring and the limited IT skills of the local population, fishermen are not yet proficient in logging in and using the electronic declaration software, making this process difficult. Currently, at port declaration centers, officials from the Fisheries Port Management Board assist ship owners with registration and provide guidance on installing and declaring using the software. Units also provide declaration kiosks (electronic devices) and tablets to support fishermen in completing port entry and exit procedures using the software.

In Ninh Binh province, there are four locations where electronic product traceability declaration (eCDT) is implemented when vessels depart from or arrive at ports. Since the beginning of the year, a total of over 8,300 vessels have completed the electronic product traceability declaration (eCDT) procedures; of which over 7,400 were processed through the Fisheries Port Management Board.

Mr. Vu Van Tuan, owner of the vessel ND-92512-TS, shared that initially, declaring port entry and exit through the electronic logbook software was unfamiliar to many ship owners, especially older ones. However, during the procedures, ship owners received enthusiastic guidance from port officials. Now, they are proficient in the declaration process. Officials also regularly disseminate information and provide guidance on how to handle problems encountered during offshore fishing, helping fishermen feel secure in venturing out to sea and maintaining their livelihoods.

Along with other relevant agencies, the Fishermen's Union is one of the reliable channels for fishermen to receive information and suggestions, and to promptly report them to the competent authorities.

The Hai Xuan Commune Fishery Union in Ninh Binh Province was established in November 2024, with 125 members consisting of boat owners and fishermen from the commune, operating over 60 fishing vessels with engine capacities ranging from 300 to 800 horsepower. Since its establishment, the Union has regularly provided useful information on weather, fishing grounds, and the Party's guidelines, policies, and state support programs for fishermen. Furthermore, in emergency situations, the Union plays a crucial role in rescue and relief efforts.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Quang, Chairman of the Hai Xuan Fishery Union, said that through meetings, training sessions, and experience sharing, members understand the importance of legal fishing, linked to the protection of aquatic resources and the reputation of Vietnam's fisheries industry in the international market. Therefore, most members and workers comply with the law, focusing on keeping fishing logs, installing vessel tracking devices, and ensuring uninterrupted signal transmission. In addition, members promptly report difficulties and obstacles encountered during fishing operations to local authorities and relevant agencies for resolution.

For a sustainable fisheries

Given the continued complexity of illegal fishing activities, on October 23, 2025, the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee issued Official Letter No. 312/UBND-VP3, requesting relevant departments, agencies, and units, as well as the People's Committees of communes with fishing vessels, to focus on implementing a month-long campaign against IUU fishing and promoting sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province, in coordination with relevant units, advises the Provincial People's Committee on the issuance of policies for occupational conversion and decommissioning of fishing vessels no longer needed for fishing activities, in accordance with local conditions; and policies to support the replacement and maintenance of vessel monitoring systems (VMS); policies to support fishermen in upgrading and replacing VMS equipment to meet the requirements of Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP and maintaining 24/7 VMS system connectivity, even when fishing vessels are anchored ashore. At the same time, the department advises on the announcement and operation of fishing ports (including private fishing ports); and the allocation of resources for inspection and control as prescribed.

The Provincial Border Guard Command is strengthening control over fishing vessels leaving and arriving at ports; coordinating the monitoring of seafood catch and unloading at privately owned fishing ports that have not yet been officially announced on VNeID, e-logbook, and eCDT systems; and promptly warning and handling cases of loss of connection to vessel tracking devices (VMS).

The provincial police, in coordination with relevant agencies, are working to identify and appropriate individuals involved in facilitating the illegal entry and exit of fishing vessels and fishermen into foreign waters; directing the deployment of a system to monitor the entry and exit of fishing vessels and fishermen via VNeID; and coordinating efforts to thoroughly address violations related to VMS and illegal fishing.

Local authorities at the commune level need to monitor and supervise ship owners, captains, fishermen, and brokers at high risk of violations, coordinating with relevant departments and agencies to compile updated lists of violators, fishing vessels, and seafood purchasing facilities that do not meet operating requirements. Local authorities should coordinate with relevant forces to decisively handle IUU violations, especially violations of vessel tracking systems (VMS); and monitor all fishing vessel activities in the community and fishing ports, including private and traditional fishing wharves.

According to Mr. Hoang Manh Ha, Head of the Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection Department of Ninh Binh province, with the goal of protecting and developing aquatic resources to restore aquatic resources and aquatic ecosystems; linking patrol, inspection, control, and management activities of aquatic resources with sustainable fisheries exploitation; and combating IUU fishing, Ninh Binh province has issued a plan for the development of fisheries in Ninh Binh province until 2030.

The province strives to gradually become self-sufficient in production and meet the demand for marine fish and freshwater aquatic species; 100% of the demand for bivalve mollusk seeds; and to build a production, processing, and consumption chain to ensure stable outlets for approximately 25% of aquaculture products. The value of aquaculture production in the period 2026-2030 is estimated to reach VND 51,160 billion with an average growth rate of 3% per year.

To achieve this goal, the province's fisheries sector will periodically assess the current status and changes in fisheries resources and the habitats of aquatic species in the coastal and offshore areas of the province every five years (until 2030) to evaluate the reserves and the potential for sustainable fisheries exploitation in the province as a basis for determining the allocation of fisheries exploitation quotas. The sector will also research and propose solutions and plans for fisheries management that are consistent with the orientation of sustainable fisheries economic development…

Regarding the fishing sector, the province is adjusting and restructuring fishing methods to align with the available fishing capacity of aquatic resources, focusing on reducing and gradually phasing out certain fishing methods that are unfriendly to resources and the environment, and have low selectivity in coastal and inland waters. The province is also structuring specialized labor in accordance with the natural conditions, aquatic resources, and socio-economic characteristics of each locality.

Ninh Binh allocates appropriate fishing quotas to fishing fleets; adheres to responsible fishing conduct rules; and combats illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The local perspective is to build a sustainable fisheries industry; fishing goes hand in hand with conservation, and livelihoods are linked to responsibility.

“Besides the efforts of the fisheries sector and relevant agencies, the cooperation of the community, the awareness of complying with legal regulations, and the responsibility of each fisherman and worker at sea… play a crucial role in meeting the regulations to lift the EC's yellow card; while maintaining fisheries resources and aiming for sustainable fisheries development,” Mr. Ha affirmed…

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/khac-phuc-the-vangiuu-bai-cuoi-20251112111545377.htm