Proposal to integrate information devices on fishing vessels

In Quang Nam , according to the report on anti-IUU fishing sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, from January 1, 2023 to April 27, 2025, the province has had many positive changes in implementing the direction of the Central and Government on preventing and combating IUU fishing, especially in preparation for the 5th inspection by the European Commission (EC).

Anti-IUU fishing propaganda has been widely deployed. Departments, agencies and sectors organize training sessions and visit households to mobilize and sign commitments not to encroach on foreign waters and not to lose the vehicle tracking system (VMS) signal.

By the end of April 2025, the province had 2,545 registered fishing vessels. Of these, 569 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more were required to install VMS equipment. To date, 568 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more have installed VMS, reaching a rate of 99.8%. The issuance of fishing licenses has also reached 94.8% in the province. The eCDT software system has been deployed for all fishing vessels over 15m.

Regarding law enforcement, since the beginning of 2025, Quang Nam has not recorded any cases of fishing vessels violating foreign waters being arrested or handled. The authorities have inspected and handled more than 31 cases related to IUU fishing, of which 15 cases were administratively fined with a total amount of nearly 494 million VND. The most common violations were related to VMS equipment and communication on fishing vessels.

To prepare for the 5th EC Inspection Delegation, the Provincial People's Committee has directed sectors and localities to urgently overcome shortcomings and limitations and focus on implementing urgent tasks and solutions in the fight against IUU fishing.

The focus is to continue monitoring and updating information on fishing vessels that have lost VMS connection, fishing vessels that violate permitted fishing boundaries at sea, and fishing vessels that have not installed VMS into the database system for monitoring; reviewing and completing the issuance of fishing licenses, and updating them into the VNFishbase database.

Focus on strictly handling fishing vessels that deliberately violate VMS, especially squid fishing vessels in the border area. The province also recommends integrating information devices on fishing vessels (VMS, electronic logs, emergency communications, satellite phones, etc.) into a unified system to increase management efficiency and support vessels to go offshore safely and sustainably. Propose directing satellite service providers to have technological solutions so that the equipment can record the journey of fishing vessels even when losing connection to satellite positioning, GPS and power off to serve as a basis for handling administrative violations.

* In Binh Dinh, in the first months of 2025, the processing and registration of all "3 no" fishing vessels in the province was completed. From June 2024 to present, no fishing vessels of the province violating foreign waters have been arrested.

The Fisheries Department has organized a 24/7 shore station system on duty, detecting and notifying 1 ship that was warned of exceeding the permitted boundary at sea and 440 ships that lost connection.

The Provincial People's Committee requested to deploy a peak period from now until September 2025 on law enforcement, patrolling, inspection, control at sea and at fishing ports, strictly handling cases of fishing vessels violating regulations that are not eligible to participate in fishing activities.

District People's Committees focus on leading and directing the effective implementation of anti-IUU fishing activities, not allowing organizational and apparatus arrangements to affect this task. Every week, localities send reports on the results of the implementation of anti-IUU fishing tasks, difficulties and limitations in the implementation process for the Provincial People's Committee to direct and resolve.

The provincial People's Committee leaders requested that for fishing vessels that have not been registered, have expired inspections, or have expired fishing licenses, localities urgently coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Environment to guide fishermen to complete registration, inspection, and licensing procedures for fishing vessels according to regulations. In cases where fishing vessels deliberately delay in complying with current regulations, have plans, or show signs of committing violations, they will be considered for an indefinite ban from the sea.

For fishing vessels that do not meet inspection requirements and those that have not completed registration, inspection, and licensing as prescribed, localities must make a management list, bring them to a centralized area, seal the fishing vessels, and resolutely not allow them to leave port, with a list and supporting images.

For ships that do not need to be registered, inspected, or do not meet operating conditions, they will be dismantled according to regulations and there will be policies to support job conversion for ship owners to ensure livelihood and income.

The Provincial Border Guard Command directs border posts/stations to absolutely not allow fishing vessels with high risk of violating IUU fishing (lack of registration, inspection, fishing license, VMS equipment) to leave port; control 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving border control stations; strengthen inspection and control of fishing vessels operating in coastal areas in the province.

In Kien Giang, 100% of the registration, inspection, and licensing of "3 no" fishing vessels have been completed and put under management. Law enforcement forces in Kien Giang province have closely and effectively coordinated in the fight against IUU fishing, especially in patrolling, inspecting, and controlling at sea, strictly handling violations, especially in the offshore area bordering Kien Giang - Ca Mau and overlapping sea areas.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment is stepping up the peak period of reviewing and expanding the scope of subjects at risk of IUU fishing, establishing a working group, mobilizing ship owners with fishing vessels operating near the border with countries in the region not to cross the border to exploit abroad; resolutely handling criminal cases of fishing vessels violating the provisions of the law.

According to the representative of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the results achieved by Kien Giang province will contribute significantly to Vietnam's early removal of the EC "yellow card". Effective implementation of the EC's recommendations, good management of fishing vessels from registration, inspection and licensing, along with close monitoring through the VMS system will help stop fishing vessels from losing connection and going beyond the fishing boundary, towards the goal of removing the "yellow card" in the 5th inspection.

Regarding long-term tasks and solutions, the province will adjust the structure of the fisheries sector towards reducing the proportion of exploitation and increasing the proportion of aquaculture, especially focusing on developing industrial, semi-industrial, high-tech aquaculture and promoting marine aquaculture. The goal is to develop harmoniously and sustainably between exploitation and aquaculture.

The province aims to reduce the number of fishing vessels by 2,550 by 2025, bringing the total number of fishing vessels to about 9,219, in order to restructure the fishing industry towards sustainability. Develop and effectively implement a job conversion project for fishermen whose fishing vessels have been reduced or changed jobs, ensuring that it is suitable for actual conditions and new jobs.

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Source: https://baophapluat.vn/kien-nghi-tich-hop-cac-thiet-bi-thong-tin-tren-tau-ca-post548065.html