Cage fish farming area in Hon Me island sea area.
Remarkable achievements
In the 8 years that the fisheries sector has carried out the key task of removing the “yellow card”, this is the 5th time the European Commission (EC) has come to inspect the situation, opening up an opportunity for Vietnam to remove the IUU “yellow card”, concretizing achievements in developing transparent and sustainable fisheries.
In order to “declare war” on IUU fishing, the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing, under the direct direction of the Government, has held regular meetings every Tuesday, with the participation of many ministries and branches, connected with coastal provinces and cities. The entire political system from the central to local levels is focusing resources on the urgent task of removing the IUU “yellow card” in 2025.
Along with the whole country, Thanh Hoa province has implemented synchronous and drastic anti-IUU fishing work and has achieved remarkable results. By the end of October 2025, 100% of fishing vessels as prescribed had entered the national fisheries database system VnFishbase and Google Sheet data set; the output of exploited aquatic products unloaded through designated ports increased. The whole province has had 1,023/1,024 fishing vessels installed with journey monitoring equipment; activities entering and leaving ports have made declarations, recorded full fishing logs... Along with that, fishermen pledged not to use destructive fishing gear, not to catch rare marine animals at sea...
Mr. Pham Ngoc Tam, owner of TH 91434-TS ship residing in Sam Son ward, said: “Thanks to the authorities' propaganda and guidance on compliance with regulations against IUU fishing, I and the local fishing community have better understood the benefits and significance of IUU fishing. We always comply with regulations on entry and exit, turn on the journey monitoring device during the entire fishing process. At the same time, we fish in the right areas to protect aquatic resources.”
With the encouragement and guidance of the authorities, up to now, all fishing vessel owners in the province have strictly complied with the regulations on combating IUU fishing, such as fishing vessels under 6m must be registered in the commune/ward fishing vessel registration book; fishing vessels 6m or longer must have a fishing vessel registration certificate, fishing license, and crew list; fishing vessels 12m or longer must be inspected, and vessels 15m or longer must be equipped with a fishing vessel monitoring device. 100% of fishing vessels must contact and notify at least 1 hour before docking or leaving the port; operate in accordance with the profession and area stated in the license; do not use explosives or electric shocks for fishing; Record and submit fishing logs... In the province, there are currently no fishing vessels or fishermen violating the regulations on fishing in foreign waters. There have been no discovered networks, organizations, or individuals brokering fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally fish in foreign waters.
These days, at designated ports, boats loaded with fish and shrimp arrive one after another. This is not only the result of sea voyages but also a symbol of the change in Thanh Hoa province's fishing industry.
Establishing a sustainable fisheries industry
Not only tightening exploitation management, restructuring the fisheries industry towards reducing the number of fishing vessels, rearranging the exploitation industry appropriately, ensuring livelihoods for fishermen associated with regenerating aquatic resources, Thanh Hoa province is promoting the development of saltwater aquaculture to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Officers of Hai Hoa Border Guard Station propagate against IUU fishing to fishermen in Hai Binh ward.
In Decision No. 4716/QD-UBND dated December 28, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee approved the Project on developing cage fish farming in Thanh Hoa province until 2025, with a vision to 2030. Along with developing cage fish farming on large lakes and dams, the province has oriented to "expand" the farming profession to the sea, with a total planned area of 88 hectares around Hon Me island. After 3 years of implementing the project, up to now, Hon Me island area has dozens of HDPE cages (volume from 500 - 700m3/cage) of organizations and individuals farming high-value seafood such as cobia, pompano, grouper... according to VietGAP standards, bringing in billions of VND in revenue per year.
Vice Chairman of Hai Binh Ward People's Committee Nguyen Nhu Dung said: "To limit the situation of IUU fishing vessels, along with inspection, supervision and strict handling of violations, the ward also propagates for fishermen to release fishing vessels that are not qualified to go offshore and mobilizes people to change suitable occupations. In particular, the province's planning of cage fish farming areas around Hon Me Island has opened up new livelihoods for local people to "change occupations but not leave the sea". At the same time, moving to cage fish farming at sea also contributes to environmental protection, compliance with State regulations and minimizing the situation of spontaneous cage fish farming taking place locally."
Along with that, every year, the Department of Sea, Islands and Fisheries of Thanh Hoa province also guides localities and units to organize the release of juvenile fish into water bodies; propagates the exploitation of the right areas and regulations, contributing to the protection and regeneration of aquatic resources.
At many regular meetings of the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing, leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment emphasized: Not only stopping at managing fishing vessels or fishing in the right area and on the right route, Vietnam is expanding its IUU commitment in a deeper direction, which is to protect the life of the ocean itself.
By establishing 16 national marine reserves, protecting rare species such as sea turtles, corals, green turtles, dolphins; implementing the ban season for fishing by area and species, Vietnam is gradually keeping the sea blue not only to remove the "yellow card", but also to affirm the image of a country responsible for the environment and developing a sustainable marine economy for today and tomorrow. The changes in the work of combating IUU fishing and restructuring the province's fisheries sector have been and are consistent with the general development trend of the whole country; affirming Thanh Hoa's companionship and consistency in implementing IUU commitments and building a sustainable fishery.
Article and photos: Le Hoa
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/quyet-tam-cao-nhat-de-go-the-vang-iuu-bai-cuoi-tu-cam-ket-iuu-den-phat-trien-nganh-thuy-san-ben-vung-268096.htm
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