Binh Thuan (VNA) – Authorities in the south-central province of Binh Thuan are intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
During a conference on November 14, Nguyen Hong Hai, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, emphasised the need for decisive actions to tackle this issue. He urged agencies to thoroughly investigate cases of disconnection to the vessel monitoring system (VMS) equipment installed on fishing boats and to enforce appropriate penalties on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, all “three-Nos” vessels (no registration, no check, and no license) must be registered by November 20, with a goal of eliminating such vessels from the province.
Hai also called for streamlining procedures to make it easier for fishermen to manage logbooks, seafood safety certificates, and commitment papers.
Nguyen Van Chien, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported that Binh Thuan is committed to removing the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood products by taking serious measures to combat IUU fishing, including increasing awareness of fisheries laws and penalties for violations.
To prevent fishing vessels from illegally entering foreign waters, authorities are enhancing management and closely monitoring 173 high-risk fishing vessels. The provincial Border Guard Command has established six checkpoints and collaborated with other agencies to track and closely monitor vessels operating at sea, ensuring prompt detection of boats fishing in overlapping or undefined areas.
As of now, no local fishing vessels have been reported violating foreign waters. The Fisheries Sub-department has assigned staff on duty around the clock at the provincial fishing vessel monitoring center to closely oversee vessels' operations at sea, especially in bordering areas, for timely warning and prevention of illegal crossings.
Binh Thuan has successfully installed VMS on 1,999 vessels that are 15 meters or longer. The province also provides financial support for the installation of VMS equipment and closely monitors vessels entering and leaving ports, ensuring traceability of seafood./.
