HCM City (VNA) - Ho Chi Minh City will take a firm stance in handling vessels involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with the goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” lifted, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Bui Minh Thanh affirmed.
During an inspection on November 5 in the coastal communes of Thanh An, Can Gio and An Thoi Dong, Thanh said although positive progress has been made, offshore fishing activities remain complex, especially as the city enters the crucial stage in the country's efforts to remove the IUU yellow card. He requested coastal localities to tighten the management of fishing fleets and strengthen law enforcement at sea.
The immediate priority, he said, is to ensure strict compliance with the Fisheries Law, particularly in vessel registration, journey monitoring, and operation management, with the aim of having 100% of fishing vessels registered and equipped with voyage monitoring devices.
Thanh directed local authorities to consolidate all fishing vessels at designated control points, display public information boards, and, if necessary, install CCTV. He also urged local residents to assist in vessel monitoring, track down missing boats without exception, and be ready to prosecute in cases of serious violations.
Law enforcement forces, he noted, must adopt a tougher approach in penalising vessels that lose voyage monitoring signals without reasonable explanation. Unlicensed vessels should be detained immediately at sea, and those found with fishing gear and catches should face potential criminal charges.
As of October 31, 98% of fishing vessels in Can Gio had been licensed, while most of the remaining inactive or derelict boats are being processed for removal from the registry to clean up the database.
Citywide, about 329 vessels remain ineligible for fishing licences. Since the beginning of the year, authorities have detected 789 cases of lost voyage monitoring signals, including 10 suspected violations between October 25 and 31.
Vice Chairman Thanh also called for enhanced early-warning mechanisms for vessels at risk of crossing into foreign waters, while urging the complete settlement of unqualified boats. Coastal localities must also tightly control seafood purchasing activities, particularly for catches of unclear origin, and intensify communication efforts to help fishermen understand and comply with IUU regulations, fostering a long-term culture of lawful and sustainable fishing practices./.
