Laws work together for sustainable fisheries.

In 2026, in an effort to lift the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" warning regarding fisheries exploitation and fishing, Ca Mau province will focus on disseminating and popularizing laws, considering this a key solution to raise fishermen's awareness of law compliance, tighten management of fisheries exploitation activities, and aim for sustainable fisheries development.

• Strengthening legal awareness and working together to combat IUU fishing.
• Working together to remove the IUU "yellow card"
• U Minh Commune: Enhancing the effectiveness of combating IUU fishing.

Strengthen propaganda efforts.

To strengthen the prevention and control of IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) fishing, and to raise legal awareness among officials, the public, and especially coastal fishermen, from the beginning of 2026 to the present, the Department of Justice alone has directed the compilation and printing of more than 1,000 leaflets, brochures, and posters to disseminate information on preventing and combating IUU fishing, with the message: "Every fishing boat owner and fisherman going out to sea to catch seafood needs to remember the minimum regulations; violations of fishing regulations will be fined or imprisoned." Simultaneously, in coordination with the Border Guard Command, posters have been displayed in residential areas with river mouths leading to the sea, border guard posts, border guard naval units, border control stations, mobile checkpoints, fishing wharves, fishing ports, areas where boats congregate, and on boats going out to sea to fish and exploit seafood.

Officials from the Legal Education and Dissemination Department (Department of Justice) distribute leaflets promoting awareness about preventing and combating IUU fishing at the Song Doc estuary fishing port.

The propaganda content focuses on disseminating legal regulations on the protection of aquatic resources; prohibited acts in fishing activities, especially destructive fishing practices; legal responsibilities and penalties for violations according to current regulations. At the same time, it promotes the role and responsibility of organizations, individuals, and communities in protecting, restoring, and sustainably developing aquatic resources.

The websites of departments and agencies also regularly publish information on the fight against IUU fishing, providing timely and accurate legal information to officials, civil servants, and the public; raising awareness and compliance with the law in fisheries activities; and gradually reducing violations of the law.

To diversify the forms of propaganda and dissemination of legal education, the province organizes competitions. A typical example is the "Understanding the Law on Preventing and Combating Illegal Fishing" competition in 2026, which attracted over 13,500 participants and more than 21,400 entries.

Fishermen raise their awareness of compliance.

The Department of Justice regularly coordinates with relevant departments and agencies and the People's Committees of coastal communes to provide legal information on preventing and combating IUU fishing to officials, civil servants, and non-professional personnel in the area, enabling them to understand the regulations and continue disseminating them to fishermen. In May 2026, conferences on disseminating laws on combating IUU fishing were held in three communes: Song Doc, Khanh Lam, and Phan Ngoc Hien, attracting a large number of officials, functional forces, and hundreds of fishing boat owners, seafood purchasing and processing facilities, and fishermen.

The Department of Justice organized a conference to disseminate legal information on preventing and combating IUU fishing in Song Doc commune.

Mr. Do Hong Quang, Head of the Legal Education and Dissemination Department ( Ca Mau Provincial Department of Justice), said: “The Department of Justice is particularly focused on disseminating information at the grassroots level, by organizing conferences in localities and areas with seaports and large fishing fleets to raise awareness among officials, civil servants, citizens, and fishermen about preventing and combating IUU fishing.”

Beyond disseminating legal regulations, the conference also served as a forum for direct exchange between authorities and fishermen regarding difficulties and obstacles arising during fishing operations at sea. This helped raise community awareness in protecting aquatic resources, maintaining security and order at sea, and safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands.

Mr. Mac Van Can, a fisherman from Dat Bien hamlet, Song Doc commune, shared: “We have been educated and understand the law, so we no longer engage in destructive fishing practices. Currently, when fishermen go out to sea, they strictly follow the instructions and regulations of the authorities, monitor their voyages, and report fully.”

The Border Guard of Ca Mau province coordinated with local fishermen at the Song Doc estuary to raise awareness about preventing and combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing.

Comrade Ho Minh Chon, Deputy Head of the Economic Department of Song Doc commune, said that the locality strictly handles cases of vessels with expired registration and inspection certificates, fishing licenses, and violations in the installation of VMS vessel tracking devices; resolutely dealing with and preventing fishing vessels that do not meet the requirements from going out to sea to operate.

Ca Mau province is determined to join the rest of the country in removing the IUU yellow card, aiming to build a sustainable, responsible, modern, and internationally integrated fisheries sector, while protecting aquatic resources and maintaining national sovereignty over the sea and islands.

Kim Phuong - Minh Hai

Source: https://baocamau.vn/phap-luat-dong-hanh-vi-nghe-ca-ben-vung-a129396.html