Efforts to prevent IUU fishing

In recent times, the implementation of the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Quang Ninh has had positive changes, achieving specific results.

The provincial authorities launched a peak campaign, coordinated patrols, controlled and handled violations in seafood exploitation activities in the area (June 2025). Photo: Hai Ha

To combat IUU fishing, the province has implemented many drastic measures, focusing on strengthening control, handling violations and raising awareness among fishermen. These efforts aim to contribute to the whole country in removing the "yellow card" of the European Commission (EC) and moving towards sustainable fisheries development.

In June 2025 alone, the functional forces and People's Committees of localities in the province organized 24 propaganda sessions to disseminate the Fisheries Law directly to 1,235 fishermen; distributed 1,235 leaflets and documents on regulations on combating IUU fishing, zoning maps, routes, and fishing logs. The forces also increased propaganda on mass media and social networks on regulations on combating IUU fishing, zoning, routes, regulations of newly issued decrees and circulars, regulations on natural disaster prevention and search and rescue, etc.

The whole province currently has 4,281 vessels with a length of over 6m, of which 3,534 vessels are from 6m to 12m long (accounting for 82.5% of the total number of vessels), the number of fishing vessels with a length of 12m or more is 747 vessels. Implementing the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, by the end of June 2025, fishing vessels with a length of 6m or more have updated CCCD/CMT data on the VNFishbase system at 97.7% (of which vessels with a length of 12m or more reached 100%) and 98/3,534 vessels under 12m are updating, accounting for 2.8%.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment and localities continue to maintain and invest in facilities and human resources at fishing vessel control checkpoints; arrange staff on duty 24/7 to guide and carry out procedures for fishing vessels entering/leaving ports and control the output of exploited aquatic products. In the first 6 months of the year, 8,930 vessels entering and leaving ports were received and declared; 2,317 logbooks and exploitation reports were collected and issued. The controlled output of exploited aquatic products was 36,625 tons, of which 1,829.4 tons were at Cai Rong port, 34,796.3 tons were at control points and statistics from communes/wards/towns.

Authorities check a fishing vessel's tracking device. Photo: Viet Hoa

The implementation of the fishing vessel monitoring system (VMS) and control of fishing vessels violating seafood exploitation in foreign waters is being strictly implemented.   100% (273/273) of fishing vessels 15m or longer have installed and synchronized VMS equipment on the system. Every day, the Department of Agriculture and Environment extracts information on fishing vessels that have lost VMS connection signals offshore, notifies relevant units and guides and supports fishing vessel owners to fix the loss of VMS connection signals. Every week, a list of fishing vessels at high risk of IUU violations and lost connection offshore for more than 10 days is made and sent to departments, branches, localities in the province and coastal provinces/cities for information, coordination, inspection, verification and handling according to regulations. Through inspection, extraction and notification to 38 fishing vessels of the province at high risk of illegal fishing, the main reason is due to not having a license or having an expired fishing license.

In June 2025, the province's functional forces detected and handled 97 violations; collected a fine of 1.2 billion VND to the State budget . The Department of Agriculture and Environment also maintained a hotline to protect aquatic resources. In the first 6 months of 2025, it received 39 reports, verified 10 reports of violations and imposed a fine of 193 million VND.

In the coming time, the forces will continue to strengthen patrols, inspections, control, propaganda, and dissemination of laws on combating IUU fishing. Actively and promptly issue fishing licenses and fully update personal data of fishing vessel owners;   Increase the rate of control of fishing vessels through ports, the rate of control of output through ports and at 9 control checkpoints, the rate of declaration via the eCDT electronic system, and the rate of handling violations related to VMS.

Closely monitor offshore fishing vessels that frequently lose VMS signal connection in offshore areas. Arrange and maintain a regular and continuous presence of functional forces and law enforcement forces in the maritime border area with China to promptly prevent fishermen from crossing the border, while supporting and protecting fishermen to feel secure at sea to produce and protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands...

Tran Thanh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/no-luc-phong-chong-khai-thac-iuu-3366988.html