Continue to effectively implement key tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing

That was the direction of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Van Su at a meeting to review the implementation of tasks to combat IUU fishing in the province on the afternoon of April 29.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Van Su chaired the meeting.

According to a report from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province currently has 4,440 fishing vessels, of which 3,969 have valid fishing licenses; 468 fishing vessels have expired fishing licenses and 3 fishing vessels have been registered but have not been granted fishing licenses. The number of fishing vessels installed with VMS to monitor fishing vessel journeys is 1,553/1,553 fishing vessels, reaching 100%. The number of fishing vessels that have synchronized signals to the fishing vessel monitoring system is 1,546/1,553 fishing vessels, reaching 99.6%. 100% of fishing vessels have their vehicles marked and fully updated fishing vessel data of the province on the VN-Fishbase software system and the Fishing Vessel Monitoring System.

Fishing vessels have lost connection to monitoring their journeys for 10 days or more since the end of 2023, 191 have lost connection for 7-10 days, and 9 have crossed the border into foreign waters. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment , in 2024, Ca Mau province had 5 fishing vessels violating foreign waters. In the first months of 2025, 3 fishing vessels violated foreign waters. The provincial authorities have detected and sanctioned 57/65 violations with a total fine of 1,524 million VND. Of which, 18/20 IUU violations were sanctioned with a fine of over 692 million VND.

Colonel Nguyen Van Ngoc, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Command, proposed solutions to combat IUU fishing.

After 3 years of implementing the policy of supporting subscription fees for fishing vessel monitoring services in Ca Mau province according to Resolution No. 03/2021/NQ-HDND dated July 15, 2021 of the Provincial People's Council, up to now, in Ca Mau province, there are 9 participating network operators, providing support for 13,688 vessels with an amount of VND 13,901,509,394; at the same time, a list of 1,946 fishing vessels that are not eligible for support has been made.

Mr. Chau Cong Bang, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, shared: “Although there are regulations on time, procedures, and documents for requesting payment of quarterly subscription fees for journey monitoring services, some network operators have not coordinated well, sent documents late, submitted incorrect or incomplete documents, affecting the progress and implementation of the province's policies and the interests of ship owners, as well as management work.

To date, 5 network operators have agreed not to collect fees for monitoring fishing vessel journeys in advance, while the remaining 4 network operators have not agreed and proposed to maintain the current payment method. In addition, 5 network operators have signed a liability contract with the Department of Sea, Islands and Fisheries Control, while the remaining 4 network operators have not signed a liability contract.

To ensure effective implementation of Resolution No. 03/2021/NQ-HDND dated July 15, 2025 of the Provincial People's Council on supporting subscription fees for fishing vessel monitoring services in Ca Mau province, the Department of Agriculture and Environment recommends that the Provincial People's Committee consider and agree on the policy of requesting all network operators not to collect satellite fees in advance from fishing vessel owners (any network operator that has collected fees in advance must promptly return them to the vessel owners as soon as possible in 2025), and the network operator shall use its own funds to pay satellite fees 4 months in advance to maintain satellites for fishing vessels. If the network operator intentionally violates the regulations and policies of the province, it must be held responsible before the law.

Officers of Song Doc Border Guard Station, Tran Van Thoi District, check the equipment to monitor the journey of fishing boats before going out to sea to fish. (Illustration photo)

To effectively implement key tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing in the province, especially the management and monitoring of high-risk fishing vessels, handling fishing vessels violating foreign waters, violating IUU fishing, implementing the policy of supporting subscription fees for journey monitoring services, and at the same time preparing the necessary conditions to work with the Inspection Delegation of the European Commission (expected in September 2025); Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Van Su directed: departments and branches to strengthen the implementation of registration, inspection and supervision, and digitalization of fishing vessels according to regulations; The Border Guard Command directed border stations and posts to preside over and coordinate with relevant units to verify and handle fishing vessels that lose connection at sea and onshore.

Continue to effectively implement the Central Government's documents; strengthen propaganda work, assign responsibility to the commune level as the main force in managing, educating and propagating to the people; count output at seafood purchasing facilities and private fishing ports; launch peak periods, with inter-sectoral and inter-provincial coordination in patrolling and controlling work; inspect and supervise the implementation of public duties on combating IUU fishing...

Middle Peak

Source: https://baocamau.vn/tiep-tuc-thuc-hien-co-hieu-qua-cac-nhiêm-vu-giai-phap-trong-tam-ve-chong-khai-thac-iuu-a38697.html