Thanh Hoa: Need to upgrade VMS system to combat IUU fishing

(Chinhphu.vn) - Currently, 100% of fishing vessels operating offshore in Thanh Hoa province have installed vessel monitoring systems (VMS), but the situation of disconnection still occurs. The reason is determined to be that many vessels are on shore, lack of workers, damaged, or anchored in other provinces.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Thanh Hoa province will establish a working group to coordinate with localities to review and handle VMS disconnection records before November 15 - Illustrative photo

Today (November 6), the working delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment led by Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, worked with the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province on combating IUU fishing. Receiving and working with the delegation were Mr. Cao Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, along with leaders of departments, branches, functional forces and coastal localities.

According to a report by the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Thanh Hoa , the province currently has 6,243 fishing vessels, of which 1,014 offshore fishing vessels have installed vessel monitoring equipment (VMS), reaching 100%. From the beginning of 2025 to now, the output of aquatic products has reached more than 117,500 tons, equal to 83.9% of the plan.

Thanh Hoa's fisheries management has had many positive changes: 100% of fishing vessels are registered, inspected, marked, have license plates and data entered into the VNFishbase system; no vessels violate foreign waters. The rate of inspection, certification of technical safety and food safety is over 96%. Currently, the province has 4 fishing ports announced to open, including Hoa Loc, Lach Hoi, Lach Bang and Hai Chau, of which 3 ports are qualified to confirm and certify the origin of aquatic products.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 24,000 tons of seafood have been unloaded through the port, 31 certificates of origin have been issued. Inspection and handling of violations have been tightened: 217 cases were fined with a total amount of more than 2.9 billion VND; 100% of violations were updated in the national database.

Despite positive results, the fight against IUU fishing in Thanh Hoa still exists. Some fishing vessels are not qualified to operate; VMS equipment connection is unstable; fishing port infrastructure and anchorage areas are degraded.

In 2024, the province will have 81 fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate, of which 37 have expired licenses, 64 have expired inspections, and 28 have expired food safety certificates. VMS disconnection is still common: in 2024, 1,187 vessels lost connection (61 vessels lost continuously for more than 10 days); in 2025, 707 vessels lost connection from 6 hours to 10 days.

The cause was determined to be that many ships were grounded, lacked labor, were damaged, or were anchored in other provinces. In addition, the inspection and supervision force was still small, equipment was limited, while fishing ports were degraded, many anchorage areas were silted, and capacity could not meet demand.

To overcome this problem, the province has directed the review and update of fishing vessel data on VNFishbase, closely coordinated with the Border Guard and Police to handle violations; and worked with VNPT Group to upgrade the VMS system, ensuring smooth connection.

The province also recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment soon upgrade and repair Lach Hoi and Lach Bang ports and storm shelters, and propose that the Central Government amend the Fisheries Law and guiding decrees to remove difficulties in management, inspection, licensing and handling of IUU violations.

Determined to digitize fisheries data

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Cao Van Cuong affirmed that Thanh Hoa is vigorously implementing the Peak Month against IUU fishing, with the goal of working with the whole country to remove the EC's "yellow card" on seafood. He requested the Department of Agriculture and Environment to establish a working group to coordinate with localities to review and handle VMS disconnection records before November 15, strengthen control of output through ports, promote digitization of fisheries data and report periodically to update the national system.

At the working session, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien acknowledged Thanh Hoa province's efforts in implementing the EC's recommendations, but said there were still contents that did not meet requirements.

The Deputy Minister requested the province to strictly control the fishing fleet, ensure 100% of vessels have valid licenses, VMS equipment operates regularly, and tighten the process of confirming and certifying the origin of aquatic products at the port.

"Thanh Hoa province needs to review the entire apparatus, focus forces on controlling fishing vessels onshore, at the wharf, at sea and when docking. For vessels that have been disconnected for many days, it is necessary to promptly verify and strictly handle violations; increase the level of penalties to increase deterrence and raise fishermen's awareness of law compliance," the Deputy Minister emphasized.

He also requested the province to promote the application of technology, upgrade the electronic traceability system, ensure transparency and efficiency in the fight against IUU fishing; considering this a key and regular political task.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will continue to support Thanh Hoa in upgrading fisheries infrastructure, providing technical guidance and monitoring implementation, contributing to the whole country's efforts to soon remove the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" on fisheries.

Do Huong

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thanh-hoa-can-nang-cap-he-thong-vms-de-chong-khai-thac-iuu-102251106160142182.htm