Dong Thap Tightens Fishing Vessel Management to Prevent IUU Violations

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All fishing vessels in Dong Thap Province equipped with vessel monitoring systems (VMS) are now operational. (Photo: VNA)

Currently, 100% of fishing vessels in Dong Thap Province have been registered, inspected, licensed, and equipped with VMS devices. The fishing fleet includes trawlers, bottom-net vessels, and handline fishing boats, among others. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment has coordinated inspections and handled cases involving fishing vessels losing VMS signals at sea. The department has re-established the Fishing Vessel Monitoring Team and the Inspection Team for combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing under the Sub-Department of Livestock Production, Animal Health and Fisheries. At the same time, it has formed an inspection delegation to oversee the installation and sealing of VMS devices, VX 1700 machines, and inactive fishing vessels in Dong Thap Province serving anti-IUU efforts. The department continues implementing anti-IUU regulations and strengthening coordination with other provinces in carrying out anti-IUU measures.

In My Tho Ward, to improve the effectiveness of fishing vessel management and contribute to effective IUU prevention and control, the ward People’s Committee has focused on managing vessels that are not eligible for operation, as well as controlling the list of vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing regulations.

Vice Chairman of the My Tho Ward People’s Committee Dinh Tu Khoa said that the list of fishing vessels not eligible for operation is publicly posted at the ward People’s Committee headquarters, residential quarters, and residential areas. Heads of residential quarters with ineligible fishing vessels are assigned to closely monitor and inspect each vessel owner and fishing vessel; fishing gear and equipment are not allowed to remain on board, and the vessels are inspected once a month.

In addition, the My Tho Ward People’s Committee coordinates with the Fisheries Sub-Department to update information and lists of eligible and ineligible fishing vessels; disseminate regulations prohibiting illegal fishing in foreign waters to all vessel owners; remind vessels operating near maritime boundaries not to cross the boundaries; regularly inspect VMS connections (every six hours and over ten-day periods); and work with vessel owners whose vessels lose VMS signals at sea to clarify causes of violations and obtain commitments against repeat offenses. In cases where fishing vessels lose signals and fail to report their positions for more than one day, ward police officers visit the owners’ residences to issue reports and require signal restoration.

As a result, up to now, there have been no fishing vessels in My Tho Ward losing connection for more than six hours without reporting their positions, and no vessels have lost connection for more than ten days.

Border guards of Dong Thap Province present gifts and disseminate information on IUU prevention and control to fishermen at Vam Lang Fishing Port in Gia Thuan Commune, Dong Thap Province. (Photo: VNA)

In Gia Thuan Commune, a locality with strengths in seafood exploitation and the largest fishing fleet in Dong Thap Province, the management of fishing vessels, removal of vessel registrations, and control of high-risk vessels violating IUU regulations are regularly inspected by the commune People’s Committee in coordination with border guards, fishing ports, and police forces, yielding effective results.

Gia Thuan Commune currently has 422 fishing vessels measuring 15 meters or longer operating offshore and 141 vessels under 15 meters operating nearshore. Main fishing activities include trawling, gillnetting, purse seining, line fishing, and logistics support for seafood exploitation.

For the 90 fishing vessels not eligible for operation, the Gia Thuan Commune People’s Committee has publicly posted the list at the commune People’s Committee headquarters and offices of hamlets with ineligible vessels to widely inform residents and vessel owners for monitoring and compliance with legal regulations.

Hamlet heads are tasked with monitoring, controlling, and supervising anchoring locations of ineligible vessels in their respective hamlets and reporting weekly updates to the commune People’s Committee. They are also responsible for organizing commitment signings with owners of ineligible fishing vessels to comply with anti-IUU regulations in each hamlet.

Ha Tran Phuong Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the Gia Thuan Commune People’s Committee, Dong Thap Province, stated that the commune currently has no fishing vessels on the list of high-risk IUU violators, no vessels with VMS disconnections lasting over six months, no vessels operating beyond permitted boundaries, and no vessels violating foreign waters. The commune People’s Committee regularly coordinates with relevant authorities to monitor, review, and update the status of fishing vessels in the area in order to promptly detect, prevent, and handle cases showing signs of violations, thereby strictly implementing anti-IUU regulations.

Coordination in inspecting and controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving ports is carried out regularly, continuously, and closely among border guard stations, fishing port management boards, police forces, and People’s Committees of communes with vessels operating through ports. Coordination is implemented comprehensively from monitoring vessel departures and arrivals to inspecting documents, paperwork, and operational conditions of fishing vessels in accordance with regulations.

Relevant agencies maintain daily information exchange and updates through a shared Zalo group to promptly notify one another of vessel movements in and out of ports and coordinate handling and prevention of vessels that are ineligible for operation or show signs of violating fisheries regulations. This contributes to improving the effectiveness of fishing vessel management, strengthening control over fishing activities in the area, and strictly enforcing anti-IUU regulations.

According to the Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) of Dong Thap Province, localities across the province have synchronously implemented many measures such as intensifying communication and dissemination of legal regulations; strictly managing fishing vessels; controlling port entry and exit activities; conducting vessel registration, inspection, and licensing; and installing and maintaining VMS devices, thereby raising fishermen’s awareness and reducing IUU fishing violations.

One of the province’s key measures has been strengthening management of the fishing fleet through comprehensive inventory and classification of all fishing vessels, from eligible vessels to “three-no” vessels, vessels losing connection, and vessels operating outside the province, ensuring no management targets are overlooked.

At the same time, authorities are accelerating the completion of legal documentation for fishing vessels to ensure that 100% of vessels are registered, inspected, licensed in accordance with regulations, and fully updated in the national management system.

The locality also continues allocating resources to implement policies supporting the upgrading and replacement of fishing vessel monitoring equipment, as well as career transition and vessel dismantling support policies for vessels no longer engaged in fishing activities.

Specifically, the People’s Council of Dong Thap Province issued Resolution No. 47/2025/NQ-HĐND dated December 31, 2025, stipulating support policies for career transition and vessel dismantling for fishing vessels no longer engaged in fishing activities in Dong Thap Province. Total estimated implementation funding exceeds VND 30.3 billion, including VND 27.9 billion for vessel dismantling support and more than VND 2.4 billion to support vessel owners and crew members of dismantled vessels in vocational training and job seeking. Implementation must ensure compliance with regulations on fisheries management and anti-IUU measures.

In the coming time, to ensure that anti-IUU efforts in the province continue to deliver substantial effectiveness, Vice Chairman of the Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Phuoc Thien, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, requested communes and wards to classify and thoroughly handle fishing vessels not eligible for operation; closely coordinate with credit institutions to handle seized assets and clean vessel databases to ensure transparency in management; review the entire fleet equipped with VMS devices, especially vessels measuring from 12 to 15 meters in length; and study and propose appropriate support policies to ensure that 100% of eligible fishing vessels are equipped with and maintain connections to VMS devices in accordance with regulations.

The Vice Chairman also requested relevant departments and agencies to focus on implementing technological solutions in fishing vessel management, including building an interconnected database system between fishing ports and border guard and police forces to closely control vessel movements in and out of ports. In addition, the province will promote digital transformation in fisheries management by applying remote monitoring technologies, satellite data, and warning systems to replace manual management methods.

People’s Committees of communes and wards with fishing vessels are required to continue strictly managing “three-no” vessels, deregistered vessels, and vessels not eligible for operation from leaving ports for fishing activities; closely monitor and maintain detailed information on each vessel, vessel owner, images, and anchoring locations; urgently implement support policies for career transition and vessel dismantling for fishing vessels no longer engaged in fishing activities under Resolution No. 47/2025/NQ-HĐND; and assist fishermen in upgrading, replacing, and maintaining VMS connectivity under Resolution No. 48/2025/NQ-HĐND of the province.

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