Vinh Long completes licensing operations for qualified fishing vessels

Vinh Long province is tightening inspection, control, and strictly handling the situation of "3 no" fishing vessels - fishing vessels without fishing license, without registration, and without inspection, contributing effectively to removing the "yellow card" warning of the European Commission (EC), not allowing negative impacts on the country's image in the international arena, reducing the prestige of the fisheries industry, and affecting the lives and livelihoods of coastal fishing communities.

Ships dock at Ba Tri fishing port, Tan Thuy commune, Vinh Long province. Photo: baovinhlong.com.vn

Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee Lu Quang Ngoi said that, implementing the Prime Minister 's direction at the 20th meeting (Notice No. 607/TB-VPCP dated November 8, 2025), last week Vinh Long province resolutely directed sectors and localities to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The province has strictly controlled all fishing vessels going to sea and entering and leaving ports according to regulations; reviewed the fleet, completed the licensing of qualified fishing vessels. Ineligible vessels are strictly managed and controlled, and these vessels are resolutely not allowed to go to sea to operate in any form.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province Nguyen Van Buoi, in order to combat IUU fishing, especially to eliminate "3 no" fishing vessels, the provincial agricultural sector has implemented activities to tighten inspection, control and management of fishing vessels in the province. Currently, the total number of fishing vessels in the province has registered 4,627 (reduced by 1 vessel due to sinking); 4,455 fishing vessels have been licensed, reaching 100% of the total number of fishing vessels in operation. The number of fishing vessels inspected according to regulations is 2,678, reaching 100% of the total number of fishing vessels in operation.

Along with the inspection of fishing vessel registration and inspection, the province has monitored the entire offshore fleet operating at sea through the installation of a monitoring system. Currently, 2,235/2,254 vessels have installed VMS equipment, the remaining vessels are suspended and are being closely monitored. In general, the monitoring of fishing vessel journeys operating at sea is strictly managed by the province's functional units.

Since the beginning of the year, 3,817 fishing vessels have lost connection due to equipment failures, transmission errors, weak satellite signals, etc. However, the vessel owners have promptly reported their vessel locations according to regulations and brought the vessels ashore 10 days in advance. At the same time, the authorities have arranged personnel to monitor and promptly warn and remind fishing vessels operating near the boundary so that no fishing vessels violate the boundary.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province said that in order to continue effectively implementing the work of combating IUU fishing and removing the "yellow card" warning, the provincial agricultural sector is coordinating with the police force, border guards and localities to organize and assign cadres and party members to step up propaganda and mobilize ship owners to strictly comply with regulations on preventing and combating IUU. The agricultural sector is determined to implement measures to manage the fleet, strengthen patrols and strictly control ships operating at sea; control 100% of ships when arriving and leaving ports; monitor output and collect fishing logs in accordance with regulations.

Officers on duty monitor and supervise fishing vessel activities at sea 24/7. When detecting vessels operating near the border or in the wrong area or route, they will immediately warn the vessel owner. Violations of IUU regulations will be strictly handled and criminal liability may be prosecuted according to Resolution 04 of the Supreme People's Court Judges' Council.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/vinh-longhoan-thanh-cap-phep-hoat-dong-cho-tau-ca-du-dieu-kien-20251114100857328.htm