Fishermen Pledge to Combat IUU on First Trip to the Sea in Year of the Horse

	Nearly 500 Da Nang Fishing Vessels Sign Pledge Against IUU Fishing
	Fishermen Eagerly Set Sail at the Beginning of Spring

After Tet, Tam Quang fishing port (Nui Thanh commune, Da Nang city) is bustling with preparations for upcoming voyages. The Nhan Dan newspaper quoted Huynh Quoc Viet, who owns the QNa-90749 TS vessel with 48 crew members engaged in offshore squid fishing, as he said that the ship maintains its tradition of departing before the 15th day of the first lunar month. This year's schedule is planned to ensure they return in time to participate in the elections for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 tenure.

"We set out to sea every year, even several times a year, to make a living, but elections only happen once every five years, so we will try to return earlier or on time to vote," Viet said.

Officers and soldiers of Border Guard Squadron 1 patrol and raise awareness against IUU, while also reminding fishermen about the election schedule. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Da Nang is home to a large fishing fleet. Nui Thanh commune alone has approximately 1,500 registered vessels, of which more than 700 have a capacity exceeding 1,000 horsepower. Fishermen are reminded by Border Guard officers and soldiers to return on time to exercise their civic rights, participate in elections. They are also educated about maritime sovereignty and regulations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Through the fishing vessel monitoring system and maritime communication channels, vessels are required to maintain the connection of vessel tracking devices (VMS), record their fishing logs, and adhere strictly to the boundaries.

In key fishing grounds of Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provinces, departure procedures are being tightened. Vessels lacking proper documentation, not having completed their IUU-fighting commitments, or not maintaining VMS connectivity will not be allowed to leave port.

The Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper quoted Nguyen Viet Thanh, owner of a fishing vessel with over 800 horsepower (Phan Thiet ward, Lam Dong province), as he said: "Many years ago, recording fishing logs was sometimes done just for show, but this year, every net cast and every fishing line coordinate must be clearly recorded. Now, if a vessel turns off its monitoring engine or goes beyond the boundary, it will be immediately called back. No one dares to take the risk."

At Hon Ro fishing port (Nam Nha Trang ward, Khanh Hoa province), authorities are regularly present before and after each fishing trip. Fishing logs, crew lists, and the status of monitoring equipment are thoroughly checked. Many vessel owners affirm that they do not encroach on foreign waters, regardless of the catch volume.

According to Nguyen Van Chien, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province, the prevention and control of IUU fishing is directed from the shore to the sea. The focus is on preventing vessels from violating foreign waters, strictly managing high-risk vessels, and severely punishing cases of VMS disconnection. Border guards, police, local authorities, and maritime law enforcement agencies coordinate in every step of the process.

In Gia Lai, the provincial government has requested localities cooperate in managing the province's fishing vessels anchored outside their jurisdiction that do not yet meet operational requirements. ice Chairman of the Gia Lai People’s Committee, Duong Mah Tiep, reported that 74 vessels have been found either unregistered or with expired registration documents. These vessels often operate in other provinces without returning to Gia Lai, raising the risk of violations of IUU fishing regulations. To address this, the People’s Committee has asked localities to strictly inspect and control vessels upon arrival at ports, preventing their departure if they fail to meet the necessary conditions.

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