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An inspection delegation from the Ministry of Justice, led by Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Oanh, recently held a working session with the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee regarding the implementation of IUU prevention and control measures.

The Ministry of Justice’s inspection delegation works with the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee on the implementation of IUU fishing prevention and control tasks. (Photo: Vietnam Organic Agriculture Magazine)

According to the Ministry of Justice’s official portal, at the meeting, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Oanh emphasized that the current period marks a peak phase in Vietnam’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) lift its “yellow card” warning on IUU fishing. The inspection aimed to clarify achieved results, identify existing shortcomings, and listen to difficulties and obstacles in handling administrative violations related to IUU fishing, thereby providing a basis for consolidation, reporting, and recommendations to the Prime Minister.

According to the Deputy Minister, the inspection delegation directly reviewed nearly 800 case files, focusing on the organization and application of laws in handling administrative violations, thereby assessing the level of compliance with administrative discipline in the fight against IUU fishing.

At the working session, the delegation discussed and clarified several key issues, including: the management of ineligible fishing vessels and deregistered vessels; seafood traceability; handling of vessels losing connection to vessel monitoring systems; and the implementation of support policies for vessel owners not qualified to operate offshore.

Representatives of provincial departments, agencies, and local authorities in Lam Dong directly addressed the issues raised by the delegation and provided additional information on the implementation results of IUU prevention and control measures in the province.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Oanh commended Lam Dong Province for its thorough and well-prepared approach. The province’s reports closely followed the European Commission’s recommendations and the inspection outline, demonstrating strong and coordinated leadership in combating IUU fishing.

According to the Deputy Minister, practical results show that Lam Dong has made significant progress. Discipline and order in enforcing administrative sanctions related to IUU violations have been strengthened, and violations have been handled seriously, contributing to improved state management effectiveness.

Alongside these achievements, the Deputy Minister also pointed out several shortcomings that require further attention, including the continued complexity of IUU violations and the low rate of enforcement of penalty decisions related to vessel monitoring system disconnections.

To sustain progress in the coming period, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Oanh urged the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee to strengthen leadership and raise awareness of the urgency of combating IUU fishing; fully and promptly implement relevant legal regulations; and regularly consolidate difficulties and obstacles while proposing solutions, particularly in the field of administrative sanctioning.

She also called on the province to allocate adequate human and financial resources for administrative violation handling in general and IUU prevention in particular. At the same time, she noted that the Ministry of Justice would coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to organize professional training courses to enhance local law enforcement capacity.

Receiving the delegation’s feedback, Le Trong Yen, Standing Vice Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee, affirmed that combating IUU fishing is an important and urgent political task for the province. Lam Dong will promptly address the identified shortcomings and continue to direct efforts decisively to improve the management of fishing activities.

Le Trong Yen also proposed that the central authorities soon issue synchronized policies applicable to coastal provinces; develop a comprehensive plan for livelihood transition and social welfare support for fishermen; and invest in a synchronized fishing port system to facilitate management and promote the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

According to the provincial report, in recent times, the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee has continuously issued directives identifying IUU prevention and control as a key task, mobilizing the entire political system toward the goal of having the “yellow card” lifted and developing the fisheries sector in a sustainable and internationally integrated manner.

Relevant forces have stepped up guidance for fishermen in completing vessel registration and licensing procedures; reviewed and strictly managed ineligible fishing vessels; and tightened control over vessels entering and leaving ports. To date, the province has 8,209 registered fishing vessels, of which 7,228 have been granted fishing licenses, reaching 88.05%. Among vessels measuring 15 meters or longer, 1,930 out of 1,941 have installed vessel monitoring systems.

Legal dissemination efforts have also been intensified, with dozens of training sessions conducted and thousands of fishermen provided with legal information, thereby enhancing awareness and compliance with IUU regulations.

Notably, since 2024, the province has fully resolved 789 cases of vessels losing monitoring connections or crossing maritime boundaries, achieving a 100% handling rate. Lam Dong has also approved a Sustainable Fisheries Development Plan for the 2026–2030 period, with a vision toward 2045, and is finalizing projects and policies on livelihood transition, fleet restructuring, and the application of digital technology in marine exploitation.

The province further proposed that the central authorities continue to provide resources for synchronized investment in fishing ports and storm shelters, and strengthen specialized training for officials responsible for handling administrative violations to meet the increasingly demanding requirements of IUU prevention and control.

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