Lam Dong (VNA) – With a 192km-long coastline and a fishing ground spanning 52,000 sq.km, the central province of Lam Dong – formed through the merger of the former Lam Dong, Dak Nong, and Binh Thuan provinces as from July 1 – is stepping up efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Provincial authorities have been working closely with coastal localities to boost legal awareness among fishermen and promote compliance with fisheries law, particularly anti-IUU fishing regulations.
In tandem, law enforcement forces inside and outside the province are tightening coordination to enhance fisheries management and implement the Law on Fisheries more effectively. Strict inspections have been carried out at ports, at sea, and via the vessel monitoring system (VMS), enabling early detection and timely prevention of possible IUU violations or incursions into foreign waters.
As of June 15, Lam Dong had 8,436 vessels registered on the national fisheries database VNFishbase, with 7,513 vessels (89%) granted fishing licences. All the 1,992 vessels measuring 15 metres or longer – those required to install tracking devices – have done so, reaching a 100% compliance rate, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment.
Since the beginning of the year, authorities have documented and transferred 135 IUU violation cases for administrative sanction, with total fines exceeding 780 million VND (29,840 USD).
Local large-capacity fishing boats are mainly concentrated in Phan Thiet, Mui Ne and La Gi wards, and the Phu Quy special zone.
In the first half of 2025, Lam Dong recorded over 116,000 tonnes of seafood harvested, up 3.57% year on year.
The province is joining nationwide efforts to implement the European Commission’s recommendations about IUU fishing prevention and control, towards the goal of having the "yellow card" warning lifted. An EC delegation is expected to return to Vietnam soon for the fifth inspection on the problem.
The EC issued a “yellow card” warning for Vietnam in this regard in 2017. The "yellow card" is followed by a "green card" if the problem is resolved or a "red card" if it is not. A “red card” may lead to a ban on aquatic exports to the EU./.
Rare sea turtle lays eggs on Lam Dong province's Hon Cau Beach
In recent years, to raise public awareness of marine conservation and sea turtle protection, the Hon Cau Marine Protected Area has actively engaged local residents and volunteers in beach patrols and nest ground monitoring. Thanks to these efforts, thousands of baby turtles have been successfully hatched and released back into the sea.
