Take decisive action against the hunting of swiftlets.

Invisible nets still surround the fields, and many swiftlets are "crying for help" even during the breeding season. The serious decline in the number of island swiftlets is an urgent issue for Khanh Hoa province in terms of protecting swiftlets and maintaining the national brand built up over decades.

On the morning of May 13th, at a meeting with leaders of departments, agencies, localities, and the Khanh Hoa Swiftlet Nest State-owned Company Limited (Khanh Hoa Swiftlet Nest Company) regarding the implementation of solutions to prevent illegal swiftlet hunting in the province, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Trinh Minh Hoang directed that more decisive measures are needed, even applying the highest legal framework to acts of swiftlet hunting.

Local authorities lack decisiveness.

According to a report by the Department of Agriculture and Environment, 61 out of 65 communes and wards in the province currently have swiftlet farming activities, with approximately 1,425 swiftlet houses. Following the thematic conference on forest management and protection, forest land encroachment, and prevention and control of swiftlet hunting in the province on January 30th, many key solutions have been implemented. To date, 51 out of 61 communes and wards have established rapid response teams, an increase of 33 localities compared to before January 30th.

The scene at the meeting.

However, Mr. Vo Van Cong, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, stated that implementation in some localities has been slow and lacking in decisiveness; reports are still general and not timely; and to date, no violations have been processed. Most cases of detecting and removing camouflage nets and seizing illegal swiftlet hunting equipment have been discovered and handled by the Swiftlet Protection Team of Khanh Hoa Swiftlet Company. The situation of illegal swiftlet trapping continues to be complex, concentrated in the Ninh Hoa area and the communes and wards of Tan Dinh, Hoa Tri, Hoa Thang, and areas along lagoons, lakes, and open fields. The perpetrators usually operate at night and in the early morning, using large-scale camouflage nets combined with sound-emitting devices to lure and trap swiftlets on their foraging and return flight paths to the islands.

Ms. Trinh Thi Hong Van, Chairwoman of the Board of Members of Khanh Hoa Swiftlet Nest Company, stated: “Although the Provincial People's Committee has directed relevant units to take measures to prevent the hunting of swiftlets, the number of incidents continues to increase. Just this morning, May 13th, the company's forces discovered three cases of swiftlet trapping using camouflage nets. Illegal hunting is seriously affecting the natural swiftlet population, directly impacting the yield of island swiftlets, biodiversity, and the national brand of Khanh Hoa Swiftlet Nest. Especially now, it is the swiftlet breeding season, so the risk of decline in the natural swiftlet population is even greater if not promptly addressed.”

Take strict action against those who violate the law.

At the meeting, relevant units focused on discussing difficulties in inspection and handling; maintaining the operation of rapid response teams at the grassroots level; coordination between forces; and solutions to strengthen patrols and raids in key areas. Departments and agencies requested the Provincial People's Committee to direct the synchronized and decisive implementation of urgent solutions throughout the province to promptly prevent the destructive hunting of swiftlet resources.

A swiftlet hunting operation was discovered.

Khanh Hoa Swiftlet Nest Company has requested the Provincial People's Committee to direct local authorities to continue maintaining the effective operation of the Rapid Response Team; to establish a 24/7 hotline to receive information and promptly handle violations. At the same time, the police force, local authorities, and relevant units need to strengthen patrols, promptly detect violations, and strictly handle acts of resistance against law enforcement. The company proposes organizing a province-wide inspection and crackdown campaign during the swiftlet breeding season; inspecting illegal swiftlet collection and trading points to prevent consumption and limit re-offending. Ms. Trinh Thi Hong Van emphasized: "We need to be more decisive in handling those who hunt swiftlets to deter others, and even consider transferring serious cases to the police."

Mr. Nguyen Duy Son, Vice Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Swiftlet Association, suggested: “To protect the swiftlet population and the economic value that swiftlet nests bring, the Provincial People's Committee should develop a fundamental strategy for swiftlet protection. Annual assessments, reviews, and specific responsibilities should be assigned to each unit. In addition, individuals and units raising swiftlets should limit exploitation to allow for breeding and population recovery.”

Concluding the meeting, Comrade Trinh Minh Hoang emphasized that the swiftlet population holds particularly important economic, social, and ecological balance value. However, the number of wild swiftlets is declining at an alarming rate, leading to a sharp decrease in harvested swiftlet nest production. Therefore, it is necessary to implement more decisive, synchronized, and stronger solutions to conserve and protect this rare and endemic resource. Comrade Trinh Minh Hoang also requested that departments, agencies, and localities seriously implement the Prime Minister's Directive and the Provincial People's Committee's documents on preventing illegal swiftlet hunting. At the same time, he assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to advise on the establishment of an inter-agency team to inspect the implementation of tasks by localities; and to advise on the issuance of a directive to implement the Prime Minister's directive. Research relevant regulations and advise the Provincial People's Committee to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to propose including swiftlets in the list of animals requiring conservation, thereby establishing more appropriate mechanisms and sanctions for violations.

Comrade Trinh Minh Hoang suggested that Khanh Hoa Swiftlet Company and the Department of Agriculture and Environment should coordinate in compiling materials and developing appropriate forms of propaganda to raise public awareness about protecting swiftlets. Local authorities should review and strengthen the operation of rapid response teams; mobilize commune police forces to participate in supporting and promptly handle emerging incidents. At the same time, they should review and identify individuals who frequently violate regulations in the area to organize education and deterrence. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Trinh Minh Hoang agreed to establish a 24/7 hotline to receive information on illegal swiftlet hunting; organize propaganda and mobilize restaurants and swiftlet purchasing establishments to sign commitments to prevent illegal consumption. Annually, the province will hold a review and evaluation of swiftlet management and protection work to learn from experience and improve implementation effectiveness in the future.

From the end of 2025 to the present, the patrol force of Khanh Hoa Swiftlet Company has detected 77 cases of illegal net trapping of swiftlets; confiscated 186 nets with a total length of over 17,000m; and rescued hundreds of swiftlets and wild birds caught in the nets. Specifically, from the beginning of 2026 to the present, they have detected 52 violations, confiscated 119 nets with a total length of over 10,000m.

DINH LAM

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202605/quyet-lietxu-ly-hanh-vi-san-bat-chim-yen-c461e0a/