Preventing and combating IUU fishing - a never-ending task

With the goal of removing the “yellow card” that the European Commission (EC) is applying to Vietnamese seafood, recently, units under the Provincial Border Guard Command (BĐBP) have increased coordination with local authorities to deploy inspection, management, monitoring, control, and close supervision of fishing vessels in the sea. At the same time, propaganda and mobilization have been strengthened to raise awareness and sense of law compliance among fishermen; and resolutely handle violations.

Sam Son Border Guard Station patrols, controls, propagates and mobilizes fishermen to strictly comply with regulations on aquatic exploitation.

To increase the effectiveness of the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, since the beginning of 2025, the Party Committee and the Provincial Border Guard Command have developed a plan, identified tasks and solutions and assigned agencies and units to implement this task with the highest efficiency. Units proactively coordinate with forces to exchange information, report situations, investigate and verify fishing vessels illegally fishing in foreign waters. Along with that, step up propaganda and mobilize fishermen to strictly comply with regulations when fishing at sea; not to assist in smuggling and trade fraud; mobilize 100% of ship owners and captains to sign a commitment not to violate foreign waters to illegally fish and 100% of fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more to install voyage monitoring equipment.

Not only focusing on inspection and control, Sam Son Border Guard Station also focuses on database management and effective exploitation of fishing vessel management software. All telegrams and directives from superiors are thoroughly grasped and seriously implemented; the plan for the peak month against IUU fishing is methodically developed, implemented synchronously, bringing practical results. Realizing that propaganda is the "key" to creating consensus among fishermen, Sam Son Border Guard Station has coordinated with local authorities and specialized agencies to promote the dissemination and education of the law. Since the beginning of the year, the unit has conducted dozens of propaganda sessions for vehicle owners and crew members on preventing and combating IUU fishing; coordinated the distribution of life jackets and leaflets on combating IUU fishing to fishermen. However, according to the unit's assessment, there are still some fishermen who do not have full awareness, sometimes turning off the journey monitoring device or fishing in the wrong registered areas, routes, and occupations. Remote communication between authorities and offshore vessels is sometimes limited; some vessels are grounded due to lack of conditions to change jobs, affecting the lives of fishermen. The unit is working with the government to find solutions to these problems, providing appropriate support, ensuring social security and stable production.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hung, Political Commissar of Sam Son Border Guard Station, said: “In the peak period of fighting and preventing illegal fishing activities, the unit has inspected, detected and handled vehicles with violations such as recording incorrect fishing vessel registration numbers, not maintaining journey monitoring equipment... The authorities have drawn up records and issued administrative penalty decisions to the owners of the vehicles with violations. Sam Son Border Guard Station continues to determine the motto "Persistently propagandizing, resolutely controlling, proactively coordinating"; focusing on strictly maintaining the regime and order of control work, resolutely not allowing people and vehicles to go to sea without sufficient procedures, documents and safety equipment".

The province currently has 6,315 fishing vessels, of which 1,041 are 15m or longer and regularly operate offshore. This is also a group of vessels that require strict management and supervision of IUU. During this peak period, the provincial Border Guard deployed 3 working groups in key areas including: Da Loc, Hoang Truong, Sam Son, Hai Hoa and Nghi Son; mobilized 7 border ships, 9 boats and canoes to coordinate with the fisheries control force, police, and fishing port management board to increase patrols, strictly control, and resolutely handle cases of intentional violations, including suspending operations or revoking licenses. Also during this peak period, the Nghi Son Port Border Guard Command and Squadron 2 coordinated with the authorities to conduct an inspection and discovered that the TH 91141 TS and TH 92075 TS vessels of Hai Binh Ward fishermen had arbitrarily removed their journey monitoring devices and recorded incorrect vessel registration numbers. The joint force drew up a record of the violation and handed it over to the border guard unit for investigation and handling according to their authority. Through counting and verification, the authorities posted "No exploitation" signs on 132 fishing vessels that were not qualified for exploitation and required the owners of the vessels to sign a commitment to keep the vessels ashore.

Colonel Le Van Nam, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of the Provincial Border Guard Command, said: “To contribute to removing the EC's "yellow card", in the coming time, the Border Guard will focus its forces and means to continue to seriously and resolutely implement the directives of the Border Guard Command and the Provincial People's Committee on combating IUU fishing. In addition, review and supplement key tasks and solutions, focusing on doing a good job of inspecting and controlling 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports at border control stations; preventing fishing vessels from violating foreign waters; doing a good job of preparing to serve the EC's inspection team. The Provincial Border Guard Command also directed units to strengthen propaganda to ship owners and fishermen about the urgency of combating IUU fishing, and mobilize fishermen to sign a commitment not to violate current regulations."

By working persistently, flexibly and effectively, the officers and soldiers of the provincial Border Guard are contributing to creating a solid foundation for the goal of removing the EC's "yellow card", while spreading the message of a Vietnam with a responsible, modern and sustainable fishing industry. The spirit of "Serving the People" is vividly demonstrated through each specific action of the border guards, firmly at the front line protecting sovereignty and security of the sea and islands, while accompanying fishermen on each trip out to sea, guiding them on legal seafood exploitation and protecting aquatic resources.

Article and photos: Hoang Lan

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phong-chong-khai-thac-iuu-nhiem-vu-khong-ngung-nghi-270655.htm