Bountiful Tuna Season Coupled with Tightened IUU Controls: Khanh Hoa Begins the New Year with Sustainable Fishing
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The results have not only improved management effectiveness but also created clear changes in fishermen’s awareness and behavior, moving toward sustainable fisheries development and the early removal of the European Commission’s “yellow card.”

Communication and legal dissemination are identified by agencies and units as a foundational solution in combating IUU fishing (Photo: Lam Dong Newspaper)

Implementing directives of the Government and the National Steering Committee on IUU fishing, Lam Dong has recently focused on thoroughly grasping and strictly carrying out key tasks, especially addressing recommendations of the European Commission and fully preparing conditions for inspection missions.

According to the provincial IUU Steering Committee, communication and legal dissemination have been identified by agencies and units as a foundational solution. Various forms of outreach have been widely deployed, including mock trials, legal dissemination conferences, and media campaigns. As a result, fishermen’s awareness has gradually improved, shifting from “passive compliance” to “proactive adherence.”

In addition, the provincial Border Guard force has organized dozens of outreach sessions with hundreds of fishermen participating, and has required hundreds of vessel owners and captains to sign commitments not to violate foreign waters, to maintain vessel monitoring systems, and to fully comply with regulations when operating at sea.

At the same time, fleet management has been carried out tightly. Notably, the installation and maintenance of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) have been strictly implemented, enhancing the ability to track and control fishing vessels at sea. Specialized agencies have coordinated to update and reconcile data across systems, ensuring accuracy and consistency to support effective management.

In controlling fishing activities, fishing ports and border guard forces have closely coordinated in inspecting and reconciling vessel entry and exit data. The total number of port calls has exceeded 12,700, with more than 5,280 tons of seafood unloaded. The collection of fishing logbooks and catch reports has been fully carried out, providing an important basis for seafood traceability.

Coastal localities have also strengthened grassroots management, closely monitoring vessel status and anchorage locations, and promptly detecting and preventing violations. Ineligible vessels are strictly controlled and not allowed to engage in illegal fishing.

Alongside management efforts, Lam Dong has placed special emphasis on law enforcement, strictly handling IUU violations. Functional forces such as the Border Guard and Fisheries Surveillance have intensified patrols and inspections, resolutely addressing violations.

The province has also focused on addressing shortcomings identified by inspection bodies, reviewing and fully resolving outstanding violation cases, and ensuring no backlog that could affect credibility in working with the European Commission.

Vessel owners and captains sign commitments not to violate foreign waters, maintain vessel monitoring systems, and fully comply with regulations when operating at sea (Photo: Lam Dong Newspaper)

Notably, the role of the police has been strengthened in combating brokerage and collusion activities that facilitate fishing vessels and fishermen to violate foreign waters. This is considered a key solution to address root causes of IUU violations.

A key highlight in the province’s IUU efforts is the issuance of an inter-agency coordination regulation. Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Le Trong Yen signed this regulation to enhance coordination efficiency among agencies in monitoring and handling violations.

The regulation clearly defines coordination principles and assigns specific responsibilities to each agency, ensuring proactive, effective, and functionally appropriate cooperation while emphasizing leadership accountability. Coordination focuses on five key task groups: communication, law enforcement, inspection and supervision, statistics and reporting, and resource mobilization.

Emphasizing the importance of synchronized coordination, Le Trong Yen stated that IUU prevention measures must be implemented decisively and consistently from the provincial to grassroots levels, with a firm stance against any violations of foreign waters, treating this as an urgent and critical political task.

At the same time, Lam Dong has proactively developed and implemented various projects and policies for sustainable fisheries development, such as marine aquaculture projects, the fisheries development plan for 2026-2030, and support policies for fishermen to shift livelihoods, upgrade equipment, and reduce fishing pressure.

These policies not only help stabilize fishermen’s livelihoods but also aim at long-term restructuring of the fisheries sector toward modernization, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

Lam Dong province currently has 8,205 fishing vessels, with fleet management being implemented strictly (Photo: Lam Dong Newspaper)

It can be seen that with the coordinated involvement of the entire political system, close cooperation among forces, and public consensus, Lam Dong’s efforts against IUU fishing have achieved many positive results. However, to achieve the goal of removing the European Commission’s “yellow card,” the province must maintain determination, avoid complacency, and further improve the effectiveness of implemented solutions.

With strong determination, Lam Dong is gradually affirming its role and responsibility in the country’s overall efforts to build a sustainable, internationally integrated fisheries sector that strictly complies with legal regulations.

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