Control and completely resolve existing problems.
In a decisive implementation of Directive No. 32-CT/TW (dated April 10, 2024) of the Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries development, Quang Ninh province has intensified inspection and control of fishing activities at sea, especially regarding destructive and illegal fishing practices. The province has developed Plan No. 421-KH/TU (dated June 12, 2024) of the Provincial Party Committee on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, along with numerous other plans to concretize the contents of IUU fishing prevention and control. The Department of Agriculture and Environment is tasked with leading and coordinating closely with other sectors and localities to effectively implement the assigned tasks.
Since the beginning of 2025, Quang Ninh province has simultaneously launched campaigns to inspect, control, and handle violations in fisheries exploitation in the province's waters. Border guards, fisheries inspectors, fisheries sub-departments, and coastal localities have strengthened coordination, patrols, and raids to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
For example, from May 26th to June 15th, 2025, the province implemented a concentrated campaign, coordinating patrols, inspections, and handling violations in fisheries activities in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Through this, dozens of violations were detected related to fishing activities in prohibited areas of Ha Long Bay; the use of prohibited fishing gear such as trawls and electric shock devices. This shows that illegal fishing remains complex, with increasingly sophisticated methods, disregarding legal regulations and control efforts from relevant agencies. The use of prohibited fishing gear such as trawls and electric shock devices not only seriously threatens fisheries resources but also damages the marine ecosystem, especially in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and directly impacts efforts to remove the IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing "yellow card".
Previously, on April 12th, in the waters off Mong Cai City, the patrol team of the Van Gia Port Border Guard Station (Provincial Border Guard) while on duty in the southeastern waters of Dau Tan, Hamlet 1, Vinh Thuc Commune, discovered a wooden fishing vessel with registration number HP-92666-TS, measuring 23.4m in length and 6.7m in width, equipped with a 510CV engine, engaged in fishing using gillnets. During questioning by authorities, Mr. Dinh Xuan Thang (captain) presented the required documents and admitted to the violation of using a fishing vessel with a maximum length of 15m to under 24m for gillnet fishing in coastal waters.
On May 21, 2025, a joint inspection team from the Department of Marine, Islands and Fisheries, Quang Ninh Fisheries Inspection, and the Waterway Police Team, Traffic Police Department (Provincial Police), discovered and temporarily detained the vessel QN-0107.TS, captained by Mr. Vu Van Son from Phong Hai Ward, Quang Yen Town, for possessing prohibited fishing gear: a metal frame for raking clams. Prior to this, during an inspection in Cam Pha City, the team also successively discovered and temporarily detained six fishing vessels from Quang Yen Town for possessing and using prohibited clam raking gear in the Hon Net area. This type of fishing gear is destructive to the seabed and marine life, and is prohibited in coastal and nearshore fisheries.
In May 2025 alone, provincial authorities detected and handled 64 cases of violations related to the exploitation and protection of aquatic resources, the use of prohibited fishing gear, failure to keep logbooks, and violations of fishing zones, an increase of 21 cases compared to April 2025.
Representatives from the Hon Gai Port Border Guard Station (Provincial Border Guard Command) stated: Inspections have revealed that many individuals deliberately exploit terrain, bad weather, or nighttime and early morning hours, during the rest periods of law enforcement, to secretly bring fishing vessels into prohibited areas and conduct illegal fishing activities. Some fishing vessels even use camouflage equipment, turn off their GPS (VMS) signals, or fail to declare their voyages to avoid detection. The force continues to organize numerous covert patrols throughout the night and closely coordinates with relevant authorities to strengthen inspections, controls, and the detection and handling of cases involving deliberate encroachment on prohibited areas.
Along with inspection and control, Quang Ninh province has also strengthened propaganda and mobilization efforts to raise awareness among fishermen about combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Border guard stations, local authorities, and fishing associations have coordinated to organize numerous direct awareness campaigns at ports, mooring areas, and coastal residential areas, distributing leaflets, displaying banners and posters, and organizing fishing vessel owners to sign commitments not to violate IUU regulations. Simultaneously, the province has focused on training and guiding vessel owners and crew members on legal regulations in fishing operations, especially regarding keeping fishing logs, activating VMS vessel tracking devices when at sea, and making full declarations upon arrival at ports for unloading seafood. Violations will be strictly dealt with according to regulations, aiming to create a deterrent and bring about a real change in the entire fisheries sector.
Strengthen management of coastal and maritime areas.
According to statistics, as of June 13, 2025, the province had 6,183 fishing vessels. Of these, 1,898 vessels were under 6m, accounting for 30.7%; 3,535 vessels were between 6m and under 12m, accounting for 57.2% of the total number of fishing vessels; 3,313 vessels had been granted fishing licenses, reaching 93.7%. 750 vessels were 12m or longer, accounting for 12.1% of the total number of fishing vessels; 711 vessels had been granted fishing licenses, reaching 94.8%; and food safety certification commitments had been issued to 97.6% of registered fishing vessels. 4,134 out of 4,285 vessels had been updated on the VNFishbase system, reaching 96.5%.
Along with completing the database, the province is directing strict monitoring of fishing activities at sea through the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), monitoring of seafood unloading at fishing ports, and implementing electronic traceability (eCDT). From the beginning of 2025 to the present, there have been 753 instances of vessels submitting electronic declarations, with a total catch of over 1,300 tons. In particular, attention is being paid to investing in and upgrading fishing ports, storm shelters, and fishing vessel control points in the province to enhance their operational efficiency, in accordance with the plan outlined in Decision No. 582/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister.
The province has implemented many decisive solutions from the provincial to the grassroots level, gradually improving the effectiveness of inspection, supervision, and traceability of seafood products. However, many major shortcomings still exist that directly affect the control and management of fishing activities in accordance with the anti-IUU standards set by the European Commission (EC). The rate of control of fishing vessels and catch through fishing ports and control points remains low, especially through the eCDT system; there are still fishing vessels that have lost connection with VMS, are operating in the wrong areas, have not been issued fishing licenses, have not undergone annual registration as required, have not updated 100% of the vessel owner's data on the VNFishbase system; and there are not yet any fishing ports that have been declared as meeting the operating conditions according to regulations,...
To fundamentally and comprehensively address existing problems, the province will continue to conduct intensive inspection and control campaigns of fishing activities at sea until the end of September 2025, while simultaneously improving management efficiency from fishing ports to offshore areas.
Mr. Phan Thanh Nghi, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: In the coming time, to resolutely implement solutions to remove the IUU yellow card, the Department will advise the Provincial People's Committee to continue perfecting the institutional framework, improving the capacity of state management in the field of fisheries exploitation, and at the same time build a closer coordination mechanism between functional forces from the provincial to the grassroots level; strengthen the modernization of the vessel monitoring system (VMS), connect and share data with the Central Government to serve monitoring, warning and handling violations in a timely manner; improve the effectiveness of inspection, patrol and handling of violations at sea, especially in sensitive areas and border areas. At the same time, tighten management in coastal waters, protected areas, and areas where fishing is prohibited for a limited time; apply new technologies and equipment (flycam) in monitoring and managing fishing vessels in sea areas; The study proposes policy mechanisms for occupational retraining, support for vessel tracking devices, and mechanisms for applying information technology in fishing vessel management. The central objective is to tighten management from land to offshore areas, ensuring that 100% of fishing vessels operating at sea are monitored through the VMS system and that they dock and unload their catch according to regulations.
Quang Ninh is striving not only to lift the IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing "yellow card" but also to implement modern fisheries management, protect aquatic resources, develop a sustainable marine economy, and integrate internationally. With strong political determination and the coordinated efforts of all levels, sectors, and localities, Quang Ninh is gradually tightening discipline at sea, building the image of a province with a modern, responsible fishing industry that meets international standards.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/quyet-liet-cac-giai-phap-go-the-vang-iuu-3363114.html
Comment (0)