Lifting the IUU 'yellow card': [2] Thorough preparation for the EC inspection

Preparing for the EC inspection delegation

Building on the results achieved, Khanh Hoa province is now continuing to promote and implement key tasks in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

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Lifting the IUU 'yellow card': [1] Fisherpeople join forces

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ba, Head of the Hon Ro Fishing Port Management Board, the unit is currently strengthening inspections and monitoring of fishing vessels entering and leaving the port. All vessels are required to have their VMS equipment operating 24/7 from departure to return. In addition, personnel are arranged to supervise 100% of the unloading of exploited seafood through the port, ensure traceability, and issue receipts that accurately reflect the volume sold by each fishing vessel to businesses and middlemen.

The Port Management Board also conducts ongoing dissemination campaigns through various channels to ensure that vessel owners and fisherpeople operating at the port fully understand violations related to IUU fishing. In cases of violation, the Management Board will coordinate with relevant authorities to enforce strict penalties.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Chanh, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that to deploy the peak session of combating IUU fishing in 2025, the Department has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a plan. The plan assigns specific tasks to each department, sector, and locality for implementation and requests serious enforcement.

The province also regularly established inspection delegations to localities to promptly identify shortcomings and provide guidance to ensure effective implementation of anti-IUU fishing tasks within each jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dao Quang Minh, Director of the Phu Yen Sub-Department of Fisheries, noted that the province is currently in the peak session, decisively implementing measures to prevent and handle fishing vessels that violate foreign waters.

Accordingly, Phu Yen province has requested relevant departments, branches, and coastal localities to conduct a comprehensive review and classification of fishing vessels. This includes vessels that have been bought or transferred but not yet re-registered, those that are still operational or no longer in use and have had their registrations cancelled, and those currently operating in other provinces. The aim is to grasp the current situation for strict management.

At the same time, commune-level task forces have been established to carry out a door-to-door campaign, meeting directly with vessel owners to mobilize and support them in completing the required documentation and procedures. These include vessel inspection, issuance of fishing licenses, certification of compliance with food safety standards, and installation of VMS equipment in accordance with regulations.

The Fisheries Inspection and Surveillance Representative Office at the fishing port is also strictly enforcing regulations for vessel inspections upon departure, arrival, and while operating at sea.

The province has also directed the organization of peak sessions of regular patrols and inspections at estuaries, creeks, coastal beaches, and offshore islands to promptly detect and strictly handle violations by fishermen and fishing vessels, especially those that do not meet the conditions for fishing operations or are in violation of VMS regulations.

During a meeting held in May, Ms. Ho Thi Nguyen Thao, Vice Chairwoman of the Phu Yen Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Provincial Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing, directed departments, branches, and localities to thoroughly prepare programs, content, and plans for working with the fifth inspection delegation, in line with guidance from the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing.

Determined to lift the 'yellow card'

Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces have issued detailed action plans in preparation for the upcoming EC inspection delegation, which is expected to take place in September 2025.

However, in order to help lift the "yellow card," the leader of the Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Environment has asked localities and units to continue seriously and decisively implementing the directives and guidance of the Party Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Head of the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing, and Ministries. The focus is on effectively carrying out key tasks such as strictly controlling the fishing fleet and monitoring vessel operations; preventing the situation of fishing vessels or fishermen engaging in illegal fishing in foreign waters; and strictly handling violations in accordance with regulations.

Coastal localities are also required to closely control vessels that do not meet the conditions for operations and to monitor seafood volumes through fishing ports and wharves that have not yet been officially designated for use, as stipulated by regulations.

Regarding this issue, at the conference on combating IUU fishing organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Phu Yen at the end of February 2025, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized that, in order to lift the EC's "yellow card," Vietnam must fully and rigorously implement four recommendations: fleet management, fleet monitoring, traceability, and handling of administrative violations.

The Deputy Minister expressed his pleasure that provinces have gained a clear understanding of the issue, as demonstrated by their strong determination based on the directives of the Party Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 52, and Resolution No. 04 of the Supreme People’s Court.

However, he also noted that localities need to continue investing in equipment, human resources, and infrastructure for fishing ports. At the same time, it is also essential to address and coordinate IUU fishing violations synchronously across the entire political system.

“With synchronous coordination from the police, border guards, coast guard, navy, local governments, and social groups, I firmly believe we will succeed. Our history shows that when the entire political system is engaged, any challenge can be overcome,” Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized.

According to the Deputy Minister, the upcoming EC inspection delegation to Vietnam presents a golden opportunity to have the "yellow card" removed. Therefore, he called on provincial leaders, departments, and localities that had a clear understanding of the issue to act with determination, resolve it thoroughly, and confront the problem directly rather than merely coping with it, in order to focus efforts on removing the EC's "yellow card."

Mr. Ha Vien, Director of the Phu Yen Fishing Port Management Board, said that, in addition to stepping up dissemination to help fishermen understand IUU violations, the Management Board is strictly monitoring vessel arrivals and departures, as well as the unloading of seafood at the port in accordance with regulations. In cases of violation, the Management Board will coordinate with functional agencies to handle them according to the provisions.