Control and handle existing problems
Resolutely implementing Directive No. 32-CT/TW (dated April 10, 2024) of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and sustainable development of the fisheries sector, Quang Ninh province has strengthened inspection and control of fishing activities at sea, especially illegal and destructive fishing. The province has developed Plan No. 421-KH/TU (dated June 12, 2024) of the Provincial Party Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing along with many plans to specify the contents of preventing and combating IUU fishing. In particular, the Department of Agriculture and Environment is assigned to preside over and closely coordinate with sectors and localities to effectively implement assigned tasks.
Since the beginning of 2025, Quang Ninh province has simultaneously launched inspections, controls, and handling of violations in fishing in the province's waters. The Border Guard, Fisheries Inspectorate, Fisheries Sub-Department, and coastal localities have increased coordination, patrols, and raids to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Typically, from May 26 to June 15, 2025, the province launched a peak period, coordinated patrols, control and handled violations in fishing activities in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Thereby, dozens of violations were discovered related to fishing activities in prohibited areas in Ha Long Bay; using prohibited fishing gear such as trawlers, electric shockers... This shows that illegal fishing is still complicated, with increasingly sophisticated tricks, despite legal regulations and control efforts from authorities. The use of prohibited fishing gear such as trawlers and electric shockers not only seriously threatens aquatic resources, but also damages the marine ecosystem, especially in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, which are recognized by UNESCO as world natural heritages and directly affect the joint efforts to remove the IUU "yellow card".
Previously, on April 12, in the sea area of Mong Cai City, the Patrol and Control Team of the Van Gia Port Border Gate Border Post (Provincial Border Guard) while on duty in the sea area southeast of Dau Tan, Village 1, Vinh Thuc Commune discovered a wooden fishing boat with license plate HP-92666-TS, 23.4m long, 6.7m wide, equipped with a 510CV engine, exploiting aquatic products by trawling. Working with the authorities, Mr. Dinh Xuan Thang (captain) presented the required documents and admitted to the violation of using a fishing boat with a maximum length of 15m to under 24m to exploit aquatic products by trawling in coastal areas.
On May 21, 2025, the Inspection Team of the Department of Sea, Islands and Fisheries, Quang Ninh Fisheries Surveillance coordinated with the Waterway Police Team, Traffic Police Department (Provincial Police) to discover and temporarily detain the QN-0107.TS ship operated by Mr. Vu Van Son in Phong Hai Ward, Quang Yen Town, for storing prohibited fishing gear, which is an iron frame for clam rakes. Previously, during an inspection in Cam Pha City, the inspection team also discovered and temporarily detained 6 fishing boats of Quang Yen Town for storing and using prohibited fishing gear for clam rakes in the Hon Net area. This is a type of fishing gear with destructive exploitation properties that affects the seabed and living organisms and has been prohibited in coastal and inshore fisheries.
In May 2025 alone, the province's functional forces discovered and handled 64 cases of violations in exploitation and protection of aquatic resources, use of prohibited fishing gear, failure to keep a travel log, and violations of fishing areas, an increase of 21 cases compared to April 2025.
A representative of the Border Guard Station at Hon Gai Port (Provincial Border Guard) said: Through inspection, it was found that many subjects deliberately took advantage of terrain, bad weather or nighttime, early morning, and the rest periods of the functional forces to secretly bring fishing boats into the restricted area, conducting illegal fishing activities. Some fishing boats also used camouflage equipment, turned off the positioning signal (VMS) or did not declare their journey to avoid detection. The force continued to organize many secret patrols throughout the night and closely coordinated with the functional forces to strengthen inspection, control, detection and handling of cases of intentional violation of the restricted area.
Along with inspection and control, Quang Ninh province has also strengthened propaganda and mobilized fishermen to raise awareness of combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Border guards, local authorities, fisheries associations, etc. have coordinated to organize many direct propaganda campaigns at ports, anchorages, coastal residential areas, distribute leaflets, hang banners, posters and organize fishing boat owners to sign commitments not to violate IUU. At the same time, the province also focuses on training and instructing boat owners and crew members on legal regulations in fishing activities, especially on recording fishing logs, turning on VMS monitoring devices when going to sea, and fully declaring when docking at ports to unload seafood. Violations will be strictly handled according to regulations, in order to create deterrence and substantial change in the entire fishing industry.
Tighten management of coastal and marine areas
According to statistics, as of June 13, 2025, the whole province had 6,183 fishing vessels. Of which, fishing vessels under 6m were 1,898, accounting for 30.7%; fishing vessels from 6m to under 12m were 3,535, accounting for 57.2% of the total number of fishing vessels; 3,313 fishing vessels had been granted fishing licenses, reaching 93.7%. Fishing vessels from 12m and above were 750, accounting for 12.1% of the total number of fishing vessels; 711 fishing vessels had been granted fishing licenses, reaching 94.8%; food safety certification commitments were granted to 97.6% of registered fishing vessels. 4,134/4,285 vessels were updated on the VNFishbase system, reaching 96.5%.
Along with completing the database, the province has directed strict monitoring of fishing activities at sea through the voyage monitoring system (VMS), monitoring of seafood loading and unloading at fishing ports, and implementing electronic traceability (eCDT). From the beginning of 2025 to now, there have been 753 electronic declarations by vessels, with output reaching more than 1,300 tons. In particular, attention has been paid to investing, upgrading and completing to promote the operational efficiency of fishing ports, storm shelters, and fishing vessel control points in the area according to the planning in Decision No. 582/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister.
The province has synchronously implemented many drastic solutions from the provincial to grassroots levels, gradually improving the effectiveness of inspection, supervision, and traceability of aquatic products. However, there are still many major shortcomings that directly affect the process of controlling and managing fishing activities in accordance with the anti-IUU standards set by the European Commission (EC). The rate of control of fishing vessels, output through fishing ports, and control points is still low, especially through the eCDT system; there are still fishing vessels that have lost connection to VMS, operate in the wrong area, have not been granted fishing licenses, have not been inspected annually as prescribed, have not updated 100% of ship owner data on the VNFishbase system; there are no fishing ports announced as qualified to operate according to regulations, etc.
To fundamentally and comprehensively resolve the existing problems, the province will continue to carry out peak inspection and control campaigns of fishing activities at sea until the end of September 2025, while improving management efficiency from fishing ports to offshore areas.
Mr. Phan Thanh Nghi, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: In the coming time, to resolutely implement solutions to remove the IUU yellow card, the Department will advise the Provincial People's Committee to continue to perfect the institutional framework, improve the capacity of state management in the field of fisheries exploitation, and at the same time build a closer coordination mechanism between functional forces from the provincial to grassroots levels; strengthen the modernization of the voyage monitoring system (VMS), connect and share data with the Central Government to serve monitoring, warning and timely handling of violations; improve the effectiveness of inspection, patrolling and handling of violations at sea, especially in sensitive areas and border areas. At the same time, tighten management in coastal waters, conservation areas, and temporary fishing ban areas; apply new technology and equipment (flycam) in monitoring and managing fishing vessels in sea areas; Research and propose policy mechanisms for career conversion, support for equipment to monitor fishing vessel journeys, and mechanisms to apply information technology in fishing vessel management. The main goal is to tighten management from land to offshore, ensuring that 100% of fishing vessels operating at sea are monitored via the VMS system and dock to unload output in accordance with regulations.
Quang Ninh is making efforts not only to remove the IUU “yellow card” but also to implement modern fisheries management, protect aquatic resources, develop a sustainable marine economy and integrate into the international community. With high political determination and the synchronous participation of all levels, sectors and localities, Quang Ninh is gradually tightening discipline at sea, building the image of a locality with a modern, responsible fishery in line with international standards.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/quyet-liet-cac-giai-phap-go-the-vang-iuu-3363114.html
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