Ninh Binh (VNA) – With a strong commitment to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the northern province of Ninh Binh has introduced a range of coordinated measures to help Vietnam soon have the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning against seafood exports lifted, moving toward a sustainable and responsible fisheries sector.
Local authorities have strictly prohibited “three-no” fishing vessels — those without registration, technical inspection or licences — from setting sail, while intensifying enforcement against other violations in fishing.
During the peak campaign against IUU fishing, Ninh Binh has mobilised all available resources, maximised the role of commune-level officials, and strengthened control over key coastal areas. The province has also defined, tracked and managed each fishing vessel and fisherman considered at high risk of violating foreign waters, as well as unregistered migrant workers in the sector.
The provincial Border Guard Command has deployed additional patrols and maintained round-the-clock checkpoints at river mouths and coastal areas to prevent unlicensed or ill-equipped vessels from operating. Violators face strict penalties. Competent agencies are also updating and managing vessel data, particularly for boats operating long distances, docking frequently outside the province or remaining at sea for extended periods.
Since the start of this year, border guard stations have checked and monitored more than 3,600 departing and 3,400 returning vessels.
The provincial Sub-department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance identifies daily the list of vessels losing vessel monitoring system (VMS) connections for under six hours and those operating near permissible boundaries, issuing alerts and contacting fishermen directly to encourage their compliance.
Peak campaign against IUU
According to Hoang Manh Ha, head of the sub-department, Ninh Binh has tightened vessel management to ensure fishing activities align with local development orientations and national quotas. As a result, the number of inshore fishing boats has fallen while offshore fishing vessels have increased, boosting productivity and promoting sustainable fisheries that support local socio-economic growth.
From early 2025 to October 23, the province’s total aquatic output was estimated at 58,263 tonnes, achieving 82.96% of the annual plan, including 52,165 tonnes from marine catches and 6,098 tonnes from inland waters.
During the IUU prevention campaign, the provincial People’s Committee directed the Department of Agriculture and Environment to regularly review and update vessel data on the national fisheries database (VNFishbase). As of October 26, all 1,361 fishing vessels over six metres in length had been registered and updated in the system, reaching full compliance.
Local authorities also compile weekly lists of vessels at high risk of IUU violations for submission to the Directorate of Fisheries and publication on the national monitoring system. As of October 26, 21 vessels were listed as high-risk; all are currently grounded and under close supervision by commune officials.
All fishing boats in the province have been registered and properly marked. Of 589 active vessels, 586 measuring 15 metres or more have installed VMS devices, a rate of 99.49%. The remaining three are newly registered, inactive or under maintenance.
Between 2024 and October 2025, provincial authorities handled 680 administrative violations, imposing fines totalling over 14 billion VND (around 531,000 USD). These included 389 VMS-related offences, seven violations for crossing permitted fishing boundaries, and 284 other infractions. There were 606 cases of VMS disconnection exceeding six hours across 455 vessels.
According to local authorities, Ninh Binh currently has no vessels involved in illegal fishing in foreign waters, and no related cases have been prosecuted or brought to trial./.
