Quang Ninh (VNA) - With strong political determination, the northern province of Quang Ninh is carrying out a comprehensive campaign - from tightening vessel management to intensifying patrols and strict law enforcement - to fight irregular, illegal and unreported (IUU) fishing, helping remove the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning and foster a sustainable, responsible fisheries sector.
The province has tightened control of its fishing fleet, eliminating “three-no” vessels (no registration, no licence and no voyage monitoring system or VMS devices) and ensuring full traceability. As of now, all targets have been met or exceeded, with 100% of fishing vessels registered and licensed, 100% data updated in the Vnfishbase system, all vessels of 15m or more equipped with VMS, and all disconnections promptly verified and handled.
In Van Don, all the 878 fishing vessels have been licensed with no cases of illegal fishing in foreign waters. At the Cai Rong Fishing Port, vessel monitoring and catch verification are strictly implemented, with 1,551 inspection reports issued between January and mid-August 2025, and no unqualified vessels allowed to depart. From early 2025 to mid-August, authorities collected 597 logbooks and processed over 1,100 electronic traceability records. Law enforcement agencies handled 13 administrative violations, imposing fines totalling 164.5 million VND and confiscating nine sets of banned electric fishing tools.
However, challenges persist in wide sea areas like those under the Co To Border Post. According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trung Kien, offenders often exploit bad weather or disguise themselves as legitimate fishermen, making detection difficult. His unit continues to enhance patrol capacity, strictly enforce discipline, and coordinate with local authorities to prevent vessels without sufficient paperwork or safety equipment from leaving port.
Despite progress, Quang Ninh faces obstacles in infrastructure and regulatory mechanisms. The Cai Rong Fishing Port has yet to be officially designated for offshore vessels as it lacks valid documentation on land and water use rights, preventing it from serving as a certified port for catch verification.
Van Don authorities have urged the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment to finalise legal procedures to designate Cai Rong as a tier-2 port, enabling offshore vessels to land and verify catches. They also proposed delegating licensing for vessels under 12m and simplifying procedures to support fishermen.
Alongside enforcement, the province has continued to strengthen awareness campaigns on sustainable fishing and IUU regulations to enhance fishermen’s legal compliance.
In the coming months, Quang Ninh will apply synchronised measures to monitor fishing activities, detect violations, and strictly sanction unlicensed operations, VMS disconnections, and boundary breaches. The province will also intensify community-based vessel management, monitor anchorage locations, and prosecute serious offenders, even in absentia, to strengthen deterrence and promote responsible fisheries./.
Ho Chi Minh City steps up crackdown on IUU fishing violations
During an inspection on November 5 in Ho Chi Minh City's coastal communes of Thanh An, Can Gio and An Thoi Dong, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Bui Minh 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.
