Quang Tri strengthens patrols, focuses on combating IUU fishing

(Chinhphu.vn) – In the first 9 months of 2025, the functional forces of Quang Tri province conducted 23 patrols. Of which, they inspected 316 fishing boats, propagandized and warned 430 boats, and handled administrative violations against 43 fishing boats with a total fine of nearly 1.95 billion VND.

Fishing boats of Quang Binh - Photo: VGP/LH

Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee said that, implementing the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on the peak period of fighting IUU fishing, Quang Tri province is synchronously deploying many solutions to overcome the recommendations of the European Commission (EC), towards removing the "yellow card" for fisheries.

Quang Tri province has issued many documents to strengthen leadership, direction, supervision, propaganda and law enforcement in the field of fisheries exploitation. Many action plans have been deployed immediately after the province merged, notably Action Plan No. 501 with key and central tasks.

The province currently has 4,709 fishing vessels with a length of 6m or more. The rate of vessels installed with VMS monitoring equipment is 98.5%. The rate of vessels with fishing licenses is nearly 96%. The rate of fishing vessel marking is almost absolute. More than 91% of vessels have food safety certificates. Fishing vessel data is fully updated on the VnFishbase software system.

The locality has strictly implemented the task of controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving the port. Up to now, all fishing ports in the area have collected and submitted fishing logbooks of captains at the fishing port at 100%. Fishing vessels have notified 1 hour before leaving and arriving at the port at 100%. The number of fishing vessels arriving and leaving the port that have been controlled has met the requirements. Monitoring of the output of exploited aquatic products unloaded through the port has reached 100%.

The locality continues to review, compile statistics, and make a list of each fishing vessel of the province and fishing vessels from other provinces entering and leaving the port, loading and unloading aquatic products exploited in the locality to synthesize reports, and clearly understand the current situation of fishing vessels implementing regulations on docking at designated ports according to the provisions of law.

Authorities disseminate the law to fishermen - Photo: VGP/LH

The authorities have increased coordination in organizing patrols, inspections, and control of fishing vessels at sea and at ports. In the first 9 months of 2025, the whole province carried out 23 patrols. The authorities inspected 316 fishing vessels, disseminated information and warned 430 vessels, and handled administrative violations against 43 fishing vessels with a total fine of nearly 1.95 billion VND.

The violations handled mainly involved fishing vessels exceeding the permitted fishing boundaries and losing connection to the vessel monitoring system (VMS). In addition, two fishing vessels were also handled for storing other vessels’ VMS devices and two vessels for sending devices to other vessels while operating at sea.

In addition to the positive results, the locality still faces many difficulties such as: Some fishing vessels have not been granted or have expired fishing licenses, have not been inspected or do not have food safety certificates. A number of fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more still violate regulations on operating areas. The verification and handling of violations through the VMS system still faces many obstacles, especially due to the lack of specialized human resources and the lack of unified guidance procedures.

In the province, there are more than 4,000 fishing vessels under 6m distributed in coastal areas, with uncontrolled fishing output. The group of vessels from 6m to under 12m has not yet fully recorded, submitted logbooks and fishing reports because they are far from fishing ports. The use of the eCDT electronic declaration system is still low because fishermen have limited technological skills, many of whom do not use smartphones or the Internet.

The province’s fishing port system is currently not meeting actual demand. While the number of fishing boats of 6m or more is very large, the whole province only has 8 level II and III fishing ports, one port is temporarily closed for upgrading. Many river mouths such as Nhat Le, Roon and Cua Tung are often silted up, making it impossible for boats to dock and have to sell their products at sea, causing difficulties for the monitoring force.

Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam said that to increase the effectiveness of combating IUU fishing, Quang Tri province proposed the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to support the investment of two modern, high-capacity fisheries surveillance vessels to strengthen patrols and control at sea. The province also proposed amending regulations to allow vessels from 6m to under 12m to unload at fishing ports on the beach to facilitate fishermen and increase monitoring efficiency.

"With a proactive and determined spirit, Quang Tri province is making efforts to overcome existing problems and prepare to work with the 5th Inspection Delegation of the European Commission, aiming to soon remove the "yellow card", contributing to the development of a sustainable, modern and internationally integrated fisheries industry", the Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee emphasized.

Liu Xiang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/quang-tri-tang-cuong-tuan-tra-tap-trung-cao-diem-chong-khai-thac-iuu-102250917151040943.htm