Vinh Long strives to have no more ships losing connection or crossing the border.

The People's Committee of Vinh Long province issued an action plan to implement the peak month against IUU fishing, aiming at sustainable development of the fisheries industry and contributing to removing the 'yellow card' in 2025.

Plan No. 74/KH-UBND aims to strictly implement Directive No. 32/2024 of the Secretariat, along with directions of the Government, Prime Minister and National Steering Committee on IUU.

Fishermen preparing to go to sea. Photo: Minh Dam.

The key objective is to launch a peak period, resolutely and thoroughly handle violations of IUU regulations; prevent and not allow fishing vessels to illegally exploit in foreign waters. The province strives to have no more fishing vessels violating, losing connection to the voyage monitoring device (VMS) for more than 6 hours without reporting location, losing connection for more than 10 days without returning the vessel to shore, or exceeding the fishing boundary. Specifically, 100% of fishing vessels in the area are registered, inspected, and licensed for exploitation; 100% of fishing vessels 15 m or longer install and maintain stable operation of VMS equipment.

One of the important tasks emphasized is to strengthen the traceability of exploited aquatic products. 100% of exported aquatic products must be confirmed, certified as having legal origin, with electronic data connected to the National Fisheries Database System. Aquatic product purchasing and processing facilities must strictly comply with regulations on certification of origin, ensuring transparency and verifiability. At the same time, the province promotes digital transformation in fisheries management, building a synchronous electronic database on fishing vessels, fishermen, fishing ports, fishing logs and traceability, aiming to monitor the entire chain of exploitation, transportation, loading and unloading, and consumption activities in real time.

Coast Guard accompanies fishermen. Photo: Minh Dam .

To achieve the goal, the province focuses on disseminating and popularizing laws on fisheries and IUU, strengthening inspection and supervision of fishing vessels leaving and arriving at ports, especially maintaining the operation of voyage monitoring equipment. Cases of disconnection or dishonest records will be strictly handled.

The province also requires functional forces to organize patrols, inspections, and strictly handle IUU violations; not to cover up, legalize documents, and legalize illegally exploited products. At the same time, focus on investing in and upgrading fishing infrastructure such as fishing ports, anchoring points, and fishing logistics facilities; encourage businesses and cooperatives to develop high-tech, circular aquaculture models, associated with environmental protection and climate change adaptation, thereby contributing to the formation of a sustainable fisheries industry.

The plan requires unification of awareness and action, clearly defining the responsibilities of heads of departments, branches and localities in implementing tasks. The province also emphasizes the conversion of banned fishing occupations to other occupations, the development of aquaculture, and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the people.

Along with the general direction, localities have proactively implemented many effective methods. A typical example is Tan Thuy commune, the locality with the largest offshore fishing fleet in the province with more than 1,200 vessels. Previously, the locality also had a situation of IUU fishing vessels, but recently, the situation has changed significantly.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuc, a local fisherman, shared: "My boat only fishes in our own waters, and business is more efficient than before. Thanks to doing well, I have been supported with a black box for monitoring, which makes me feel more secure."

According to the Tan Thuy Commune Party Committee, this result was achieved thanks to regular propaganda and mobilization work. Notably, the model "Skilled mass mobilization - cadres and party members accompany fishermen", deployed from 2022, helps raise fishermen's awareness of law compliance.

Since 2024, Tan Thuy has not recorded any serious violations by fishing vessels, with only a few cases of vessels losing signal due to incidents. Photo: Minh Dam.

In the first nine months of 2025, the province's total fishing output reached more than 213,000 tons, equal to 75.7% of the plan. The province has 4,654 registered fishing vessels, of which 2,267 are 15 meters or longer; 99% of the vessels that need to be equipped with voyage monitoring devices have been installed.

The Provincial People's Committee requests departments, branches and localities to allocate sufficient resources, regularly inspect and urge, and ensure effective implementation of the plan. The head is responsible to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for the results in his/her unit, demonstrating the determination to work with the whole country to remove the "yellow card" of the European Commission in 2025.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/vinh-long-phan-dau-khong-con-tau-mat-ket-noi-vuot-ranh-d781011.html