Raising Legal Awareness to Combat IUU Fishing in HCMC
	Combating IUU Fishing: Many Localities Achieve 100% Installation Of Vessel Monitoring Devices

According to the report, from the beginning of 2025 to the present, there have been no fishing vessels from Ho Chi Minh City violating foreign waters under the supervision of the European Commission (EC) as part of Vietnam’s roadmap to have the IUU “yellow card” removed. This marks a positive outcome in the city’s fisheries sector’s efforts to comply with international regulations on sustainable exploitation.

Ho Chi Minh City records no IUU fishing vessel violations. (Illustrative photo)

At the same time, other violations related to the use and operation of fishing vessels have been strictly handled by the competent authorities. Since 2024, law enforcement agencies have documented and penalized 499 administrative violations in the fisheries sector. Among these, 184 cases were fined for failing to comply with regulations on vessel monitoring devices or crossing authorized boundaries during offshore fishing operations.

As of October 31, Ho Chi Minh City manages a total of 4,638 fishing vessels, a decrease of 72 compared to the previous week due to deregistration. Of this number, 1,715 vessels are between 6 and 12 meters in length, 606 vessels range from 12 to 15 meters, and 2,317 vessels are over 15 meters long.

In the coming period, the Department of Agriculture and Environment stated that it will continue to strengthen supervision of fishing activities. Specifically, competent authorities will monitor fishing vessel routes at sea around the clock (24/7), especially those at high risk of violations; conduct thorough inspections of departures and arrivals; and ensure traceability of aquatic products landed at local fishing ports.

Maintaining the achievement of “no vessel violations” is expected to contribute to Vietnam’s overall efforts to remove the EC’s IUU yellow card, paving the way for a sustainable, integrated, and internationally responsible fisheries sector.

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