Police forces from Lam Dong, Ca Mau, An Giang, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, and Ho Chi Minh City held a joint review on January 12 in Xuan Huong - Da Lat ward, Lam Dong province, strengthening efforts to combat organisations and individuals arranging or brokering illegal border crossings for illegal fishing overseas.
Recently, the Coast Guard Command of Region 3, in coordination with the Central Highland province of Lam Dong, launched a programme to help local fishermen combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
During the event, authorities distributed 425 leaflets outlining IUU rules and key responsibilities for vessel owners and crews, including: obtaining proper licenses, displaying the Vietnamese flag while at sea, actively protecting maritime sovereignty, maintaining order at sea, and avoiding prohibited practices such as destroying marine resources, ecosystems, or fishing in restricted areas.
The two verdicts demonstrate the determination of An Giang’s judicial authorities to prosecute illegal border crossings, thereby raising public awareness, safeguarding national sovereignty, and curbing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The inspection campaign, which runs from March to November, is divided into multiple peak phases aimed at detecting, preventing, and strictly handling violations of fishing regulations. It also seeks to raise fishermen’s awareness and compliance with the law.
Authorities have pursued cases involving serious offenses such as illegal border crossings, fraud, document forgery, vessel monitoring system (VMS) tampering, and the unauthorised use of explosives for fishing.
To further tighten control, the Tien Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment recently established task forces to monitor the operation of vessels, their compliance with fishing regulations, and the installation of the vessel monitoring system.
According to Tran Hoang Nhat Nam, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, communication efforts have proven effective, significantly improving awareness among vessel owners and fishermen.
Vietnam has been working hard to realise the European Commission’s (EC) recommendations on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing for the last seven years. During its on-site visits to Vietnam following the issuance of the “yellow card” warning in 2017, the EC delegation has recognised Vietnam’s positive progress in tackling IUU fishing. The upcoming inspection by the EC scheduled for October 2024 is expected to present another opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its strong political commitment from the central to local levels and stringent measures against IUU fishing, according to international experts.
Under the drastic direction of the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 28 coastal localities in Vietnam have implemented positive measures and recorded encouraging results to soon remove the “yellow card” imposed by the European Commission (EC) on Vietnam for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Prime Minister has requested ministries, local authorities, and agencies to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing so that the European Commission removes the "Yellow Card" ban on Vietnamese fisheries exports.
Fishing vessels in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang have strictly followed regulations and proactive monitoring measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, according to the provincial Steering Committee for IUU Fishing Prevention and Control.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) recently approved a master plan for the upcoming fourth working session, scheduled for October 10 - 18, with the European Commission (EC) inspection team over the country’s efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) requires localities to focus on drastic measures to prevent fishing boats and fishermen from illegally exploiting seafood.
Removing the European Commission’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing “yellow card” is no easy task and cannot be done overnight, but the Vietnamese business community and associations are still determined to succeed, not only to meet the commission’s requirements but also for the sake of sustainable fisheries development.
The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is identifying the measures needed to have the “yellow card” warning from the European Commission (EC) for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing removed, according to local authorities.
The Directorate of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the US Department of State signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on July 22 in Hanoi on strengthening fishery law enforcement capacity.
The fishery sector has been working to implement recommendations by the European Commission (EC) for the past two years to remove its illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) yellow card warning.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the southern province of Kien Giang has announced the list of 25 fishing vessels and owners violating the efforts to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) as required by the European Commission.
A delegation from the European Parliament (EP)’s Committee on Fisheries held a working session with authorities from the central province of Binh Dinh on October 31 to discuss efforts to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as required by the European Commission.
