Ho Chi Minh City: Strengthening supervision and promoting strong propaganda against IUU fishing

(HTV) - Since the beginning of 2025, Ho Chi Minh City has not recorded any cases of fishing vessels being detained by foreign countries thanks to the synchronous implementation of solutions to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Ho Chi Minh City currently has 4,857 fishing vessels, of which nearly 60% are offshore fishing vessels. In order to prevent IUU fishing, coastal localities of the city have simultaneously implemented many measures: providing guidance on completing documents, propagandizing, signing commitments and strictly handling violations.

Fishing boats anchored at the port area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City, ready for a fishing trip in accordance with regulations.

Accepting the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) Inspection Team, coastal localities have made efforts to overcome shortcomings and promote propaganda for fishermen. In Long Hai commune, many creative models have been deployed such as establishing propaganda teams in hamlets, setting up Zalo groups between ship owners - captains - authorities to update new regulations; organizing morning coffee sessions, meeting fishermen to disseminate legal regulations and guide fishing logbook keeping.

Since March 2024, fishing ports in Ho Chi Minh City have deployed the national electronic traceability software for exploited aquatic products - eCDT. Currently, 100% of ship owners and captains have installed this software to serve import and export procedures, helping to improve transparency and efficiency in tracing product origin. In addition, the electronic data system allows ports and authorities to monitor and approve fishing vessel activities online, facilitating the monitoring and prevention of IUU violations.

Bustling atmosphere at the fishing port, where offshore fishing vessels carry out electronic declarations and trace the origin of seafood.

To date, more than 98% of Ho Chi Minh City's offshore fishing vessels have installed voyage monitoring devices and 100% of fishing vessels have kept fishing logs according to regulations. The city's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has assigned specific responsibilities to local authorities, while strengthening inspections and coordinating strict handling of violations.

Border Guard forces inspect and educate fishermen about regulations against IUU fishing right at fishing ports.

According to statistics, since the beginning of 2025, Ho Chi Minh City authorities have handled 478 administrative violations related to IUU fishing, prosecuted 8 criminal cases (6 cases have been tried). However, the city still has 887 fishing vessels that are not qualified to go to sea and 711 vessels classified as "high risk" of IUU violations, requiring solutions to continue to be implemented strongly and synchronously.

In the "sprint" phase of preparing to welcome the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation, Ho Chi Minh City has launched a peak "declaration of war" against IUU violations, while strengthening inspection and handling the responsibility of groups and individuals who fail to fulfill their tasks in this work.

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Source: https://htv.com.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-tang-cuong-giam-sat-day-manh-tuyen-truyen-quyet-liet-chong-iuu-22225102412271998.htm