Dong Thap Steps Up Communication Against IUU Fishing At The Start Of The Fishing Season

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As part of nationwide efforts to have the European Commission’s “yellow card” lifted, Dong Thap Province has intensified awareness campaigns among fishermen on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing right from the beginning of the year’s fishing season.

Gia Thuan Commune, located in the eastern part of Dong Thap Province, has strong advantages in fisheries exploitation. The commune currently has 563 fishing vessels, including 423 offshore boats and 140 nearshore vessels, with an average annual catch of more than 42,970 tons of seafood.

The Vam Lang Border Guard Control Station disseminates information on preventing IUU fishing and presents Vietnamese national flags to captains and fishermen. (Photo: Cong Tri/VNA)

Following the Lunar New Year holiday, fishing boats from Gia Thuan Commune have returned to sea, marking the start of the 2026 fishing season. From the sixth day of the Lunar New Year (February 22, 2026) until now, a total of 364 vessels with 2,050 fishermen have set sail.

To raise awareness among vessel owners and fishermen about complying with regulations on legal fishing and mandatory reporting, the commune’s People’s Committee has coordinated with the Border Guard and fisheries surveillance forces to conduct communication activities at Vam Lang fishing port before boats depart for sea.

According to Ha Tran Phuong Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the Gia Thuan Commune People’s Committee, the locality will continue implementing the directions of the Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee to effectively carry out measures against IUU fishing. The commune has tasked the Economic Division to coordinate with relevant agencies, the Kieng Phuoc Border Guard Station, and the Dong Thap Border Guard to strengthen communication so that fishermen clearly understand and comply with legal regulations on fisheries exploitation, thereby avoiding IUU violations.

At the same time, authorities will intensify inspections, supervision, and strictly handle violations to ensure full compliance with the recommendations of the European Commission, while improving seafood traceability and product certification.

In addition, the Dong Thap Border Guard forces have worked with relevant agencies to conduct outreach activities for captains and fishermen, distributing leaflets to remind vessel owners and crews to comply with the law when operating at sea, avoid IUU-related violations, and fish in accordance with their registered fishing gear, designated fishing zones, and approved routes.

Border Guard officers of Dong Thap Province inspect the operation of the fishing vessel monitoring system. (Photo: Cong Tri/VNA)

At the Vam Lang Border Guard Control Station, under the Kieng Phuoc Border Guard Post of the Dong Thap Border Guard Command, relevant authorities have swiftly completed the necessary clearance procedures to allow offshore fishing vessels to depart for the first fishing trips of the year.

Officers and soldiers at the Vam Lang Border Guard Control Station are on duty 24 hours a day to process departure procedures for vessels quickly while ensuring strict compliance with regulations. This helps avoid oversights and facilitates smooth departures for fishermen heading out to sea.

These efforts aim to improve awareness and compliance with regulations on marine resource exploitation, prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and contribute to the removal of the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning, thereby promoting sustainable fisheries development.

Le Van Muoi, Chairman of the Fishing Union of Gia Thuan Commune, Dong Thap Province, said that while preparing logistics for the first fishing trips of the new year, the fishing union coordinates with local authorities to remind vessel owners, captains, and crew members to strictly comply with regulations and avoid violations related to IUU fishing.

Currently, the Gia Thuan Fishing Union has 30 members operating offshore fishing vessels, with an annual catch of about 20,000 tons. The union also operates seafood transport vessels that bring catches back to shore more frequently than before. Previously, fishing vessels would only return after completing their trips, which typically lasted two to three months. The new system helps fishing vessels reduce costs and improve the efficiency of offshore fishing operations.

Ly Van Lieng, head of the Truong Duy Fisheries Cooperative Group in Hamlet 2, Gia Thuan Commune, which operates 12 offshore fishing vessels with 84 members, shared that in support of the nationwide effort to combat IUU fishing, captains regularly communicate with vessel owners within the cooperative. They exchange information on fishing grounds and ensure that vessel monitoring systems remain operational throughout their fishing activities at sea.

In case the monitoring equipment temporarily loses signal, fishermen must immediately notify the device provider for inspection and repair, ensuring continuous connectivity during fishing operations at sea and avoiding violations of regulations related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

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