21 provinces and cities signed an agreement to compete in preventing and combating IUU fishing.

(Chinhphu.vn) - On August 12, An Giang province coordinated with the Ministry of National Defense's Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing to organize the "Launching Ceremony of the peak emulation campaign against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing".

Senior Lieutenant General Thai Dai Ngoc speaks at the launching ceremony - Photo: VGP/LS

Attending the launching ceremony were Senior Lieutenant General Thai Dai Ngoc, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, leaders of central ministries and branches, leaders of 21 coastal provinces and cities, representatives of a number of ship owners, captains and fishermen engaged in fishing activities.

The competition focuses on promptly preventing fishing vessels and fishermen from violating foreign waters, contributing with ministries, branches and localities to implement the Government 's determination, with the theme "Promoting the spirit of responsibility, solidarity, coordination, resolutely fighting and preventing IUU fishing violations". The competition period is from August 12, 2025 to September 2, 2025.

Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Thai Dai Ngoc, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Head of the Ministry of National Defense's Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing, emphasized: Through the peak emulation campaign, the Ministry of National Defense's Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing hopes for the coordination of the Steering Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Public Security and the IUU Steering Committees of coastal localities in propaganda, dissemination and education of laws; information exchange; management of fishing vessels and handling of violations in a synchronous, practical and effective manner.

Senior Lieutenant General Thai Dai Ngoc requested localities to speed up the process of reviewing and handling fishing vessels that have seriously violated IUU fishing regulations and have been captured and handed over by the military forces according to the provisions of the law, to be completed before August 30, 2025. Closely coordinate with functional forces to promote legal propaganda, ensuring warning and deterrence. Take the lead and coordinate with forces (Border Guard, Coast Guard) to put high-risk fishing vessels under strict and mandatory management, not allowing them to operate, to be completed before August 20, 2025.

Prioritize the arrangement, mobilization, and increase of human resources, funding, and equipment for local agencies and functional forces to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing, and resolutely and strictly handle the responsibilities of organizations and individuals who do not fulfill their assigned duties and tasks, assist and condone IUU fishing, and affect the common efforts to remove Vietnam's "Yellow Card" warning.

For military units, Senior Lieutenant General Thai Dai Ngoc directed the agencies and units under his authority to closely coordinate with local authorities and relevant functional forces to continue to strengthen propaganda, dissemination and education of the law; coordinate, coordinate inspections and exchange information on situations related to fishing vessels among forces; patrol, inspect and control fishing vessels to maintain anchorage at ports according to regulations; resolutely not let fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions leave port to exploit aquatic products. Timely prevent fishing vessels from illegally exploiting in foreign waters.

Delegates from ministries, branches and localities attended the launching ceremony - Photo: VGP/LS

At the launching ceremony, Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Mung said that after nearly 8 years of implementation, the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing in the country in general and An Giang province in particular has had many positive changes, recognized by the Inspection Delegation of the European Commission (EC) such as: Completing the work of identifying and managing fishing vessel activities; regulations on installing fishing vessel monitoring devices (VMS) are strictly followed; there is a lot of determination in law enforcement; traceability of exploited products is increasingly ensured;...

Recognizing the importance of combating IUU fishing, over the past time, the entire political system of An Giang province has focused on leadership, drastic direction, and strict implementation of directives, resolutions, and directive documents of the central ministries and branches. Thereby, the work of preventing and combating IUU in An Giang province has achieved many positive results, preparing conditions for welcoming the Inspection Delegation of the European Commission in September 2025.

An Giang province commits with the highest sense of responsibility to actively work with the Ministry of National Defense's Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing, central ministries, branches and People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities to synchronously and effectively deploy the peak emulation campaign against IUU fishing in the whole country in general and in An Giang province in particular; determined to join hands and unite, overcome shortcomings and limitations, to soon remove the EC's "Yellow Card" warning with the whole country.

At the ceremony, representatives of the Steering Committee of ministries, branches and 21 coastal provinces and cities signed a covenant and commitment to emulate, with 5 emulation contents: Doing well the work of disseminating and propagating to raise awareness, responsibility, and determination to perform tasks; doing well the work of patrolling, controlling, and thoroughly handling IUU violations; doing well the work of coordinating, cooperating, and exchanging information between functional forces performing the task of combating IUU fishing; promoting foreign affairs in handling cases of Vietnamese fishing vessels being chased, controlled, and arrested by foreign functional forces; doing well the work of ensuring absolute safety during the performance of tasks at sea.

LS

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/21-tinh-thanh-pho-ki-giao-ket-thi-dua-phong-chong-khai-thac-iuu-102250812171131036.htm