Overcoming the IUU 'yellow card': Raising awareness for fishermen to strictly comply with regulations

Implementing Decision No. 2310/QD-TTg dated October 17, 2025 of the Prime Minister promulgating the "Action plan for the peak month against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and sustainable development of Vietnam's fisheries industry", Vinh Long province has so far resolutely implemented many synchronous solutions to help fishermen raise their awareness of strictly complying with regulations.

Illustration photo: Ngoc Ha/VNA

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province Nguyen Van Buoi said that, implementing the Prime Minister's Decision, the People's Committee of Vinh Long province continues to direct the departments, branches of the province and related localities, the Provincial Steering Committee on IUU to strictly implement the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No. 122/CD-TTg dated July 25, 2025, Official Dispatch No. 198 CD-TTg dated October 17, 2025 on focusing on implementing the peak month of combating IUU fishing and sustainable development of the fisheries industry.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment was assigned to direct specialized units and coastal localities in the province to coordinate and strengthen the implementation of solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The Department, in coordination with Border Control Stations and Provincial Police, issued Official Dispatch No. 1271/CAT-PA04 dated October 22, 2025, directing the police of communes and wards to strengthen the management of "3 no" fishing vessels in the province; in which, the commune police assigned officers to check the status and anchorage position of "3 no" fishing vessels (no registration, no inspection and no fishing license) twice a day (morning and afternoon).

Units focused on resolutely conducting a general inspection and review of all fishing vessels in the province regarding registration, inspection, and licensing status. The number of fishing vessels operating outside the province and fishing vessels that have not installed VMS equipment... to monitor, supervise, and handle violations according to the law. Localities and Border Guard Stations in the province stepped up propaganda and mobilization work to raise awareness among fishermen to strictly comply with regulations and absolutely not to illegally exploit in foreign waters. The Border Guard and Fisheries Surveillance forces are responsible for and strictly implement the organization of patrols and control of fishing vessels when entering and leaving for exploitation and fishing activities.

Dinh An fishing port is designated to certify exported aquatic products. The Fishing Port Management Board and Border Guard Station have regularly met directly with ship owners and captains to disseminate information about the regulations on IUU fishing. Thanks to that, all ship owners and captains are fully aware and committed to comply without violation.

Mr. Le Trung Kien, Captain of fishing boat 95812-TS said: Fishing boats entering and leaving Dinh An Fishing Port are all met, propagandized, reminded and instructed by the authorities to fully update operational data such as docking, leaving port, bringing seafood ashore, etc. For him personally, as a Captain, he is regularly instructed and reminded of IUU regulations, so he always complies and requests ship owners to fully comply with regulations such as inspection, installation of voyage equipment; registration when entering and leaving port; recording schedules and catch products according to the instructions of the staff at Dinh An Fishing Port.

According to the Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province, up to now, the whole province has 4,628 registered fishing vessels; of which, vessels with a length of 15m or more are 2,255 vessels, vessels with a length of 12m to under 15m are 706 vessels, vessels with a length of 6m to under 12m are 1,667 vessels. The number of vessels granted fishing licenses is 4,450/4,628 vessels, reaching 96.2%. Since the beginning of the year, Vinh Long province has not had any cases of fishing vessels operating in the wrong area, fishing vessels violating foreign waters being arrested and handled by foreign authorities...

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/khac-phuc-the-vang-iuu-nang-cao-y-thuc-cho-ngu-dan-chap-hanh-nghiem-quy-dinh-20251108093503059.htm