Ninh Binh focuses on implementing the "Peak month against IUU fishing and sustainable development of the fisheries industry"

Pursuant to Official Dispatch No. 198/CD-TTg dated October 17, 2025 of the Prime Minister, the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province issued Official Dispatch No. 312/UBND-VP3 dated October 23, 2025 requesting relevant departments, branches, units and People's Committees of communes with fishing vessels to focus on implementing the peak month against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

Fishermen of Hai Thinh commune prepare to go to sea

Accordingly, the Department of Agriculture and Environment is assigned to preside over and coordinate with units advising the Provincial People's Committee to promulgate policies on job conversion and liquidation of fishing vessels that do not need to operate in fisheries in accordance with local conditions and policies to support the replacement and maintenance of voyage monitoring equipment (VMS); policies to support fishermen in upgrading and replacing VMS equipment to meet the conditions specified in Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP and maintaining connection to the VMS system 24/7 even when fishing vessels are anchored at shore; Advise on the announcement of opening and putting into operation fishing ports (including private fishing ports); arrange resources for inspection, arrange resources for inspection and control according to regulations. Completion time is before November 15, 2025.

Consulting on upgrading information technology infrastructure (desktop computers, laptops)
(board, internet connection) at fishing ports to support fishermen in updating data to the eCDT system and electronic fishing logs. Completion date before October 30, 2025.

The province also assigned the Provincial Border Guard Command to strengthen control of fishing vessels leaving and arriving at ports; coordinate in monitoring the output of aquatic products exploited and unloaded at private fishing ports that have not been announced on the VNeID, e-logbook, eCDT systems, promptly warn and handle cases of lost connection to the voyage monitoring device (VMS). Propose to upgrade the information technology infrastructure at Border Guard Stations and Stations to support fishermen in updating electronic data, serving the management and traceability of aquatic products. Focus on verifying and strictly handling violations of exploitation in foreign waters, publicizing the handling results to deter, educate and prevent violations.

The provincial police preside over and coordinate with relevant sectors to work and verify the masterminds and brokers who bring fishing vessels and fishermen to violate foreign waters; direct the implementation of a system to control fishing vessels and fishermen entering and leaving ports via VNeID, and coordinate to thoroughly handle violations related to VMS and illegal exploitation.

The Department of Science and Technology inspected and monitored the quality of satellite telecommunications equipment and services serving VMS, ensuring 100% of subscribers operate stably, maintaining continuous connection during peak times, contributing to serving well the 5th inspection by the EC Inspection Team in Vietnam.

The Department of Finance advises on arranging and allocating the budget to serve the tasks of combating IUU fishing, investing in fisheries infrastructure, promoting digital transformation and sustainable development of the fisheries sector in accordance with regulations.

Agencies and units must complete key tasks before October 30, 2025, ensuring progress and effectiveness in implementing the goal of removing the IUU "yellow card", aiming to build a sustainable development of the fisheries industry in Ninh Binh province.

For communes with fishing vessels, the Provincial People's Committee requires the People's Committees of communes to concentrate resources and promote the role of local authorities in preventing and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Localities need to grasp key areas and implement the motto of each cadre and party member being in charge of a group of fishing vessels or fishermen at high risk of violating foreign waters to strengthen propaganda, mobilization, monitoring and prevention right from shore and at sea, promptly handling violations according to the law.

The People's Committees of communes must delimit, monitor, and strictly manage each fishing vessel and fisherman, especially those without a stable residence or coming from other localities to practice their profession. They must direct the commune police force to coordinate with relevant agencies to implement measures to manage fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate, bring them to a centralized anchorage area, seal or lock the vessels to ensure they cannot go out to sea to fish illegally.

Commune-level authorities need to monitor and supervise ship owners, captains, fishermen, and brokers at high risk of violations, coordinate with departments and branches to compile an updated list of violators, fishing vessels, and seafood purchasing facilities that are not qualified to operate. Coordinate with concentrated forces, strengthen the handling of IUU violations, especially violations of the voyage monitoring system (VMS), and organize monitoring of all fishing vessel activities in communities and fishing ports, including private and traditional fishing ports.

The Provincial People's Committee requests localities and relevant units to periodically report implementation results before 5:00 p.m. every Friday, monthly reports before the 14th of each month and ad hoc reports when requested, and send them to the Department of Agriculture and Environment for synthesis and reporting to the Provincial People's Committee.

Hoang Tuan

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/ninh-binh-tap-trung-thuc-hien-thang-cao-diem-chong-khai-thac-iuu-va-phat-trien--251023121306709.html