Legal fishing, “yellow card” lifting

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At Tac Cau fishing port, dozens of vessels dock each day to unload their catch. Along with port workers, boat owners, captains, and fishers are also directly involved in offshore operations and fishing. To ensure fishers understand and follow fisheries regulations, the provincial Port Authority has organized a communication campaign against IUU fishing through various activities.

Vietnam Coast Guard Region 4 Command collaborates with Ha Tien Ward People's Committee to raise fishermen’s awareness about combating IUU fishing (Photo: Thuy Trang)

Numerous billboards and posters highlighting commitments to refrain from IUU fishing are featured in many areas. This is a key provision of Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HĐTP dated June 12, 2024, issued by the Supreme People’s Court, as well as serious violations under the Fisheries Law 2017.

Loudspeakers installed at the unloading areas regularly broadcast information on penalties for IUU fishing. In addition, the provincial Port Authority, together with Municipal Fisheries Sub-department and the Fisheries Surveillance, has organized training sessions to guide fishers and businesses on recording fishing dates and completing SC and CC certification procedures through the eCDT traceability system.

Department of Agriculture and Environment, with An Giang Newspaper and Radio Station, has launched a media series on “Preventing IUU fishing” across print, online, radio, and television. More than 11,000 special publications have been distributed to fishers, while text messages to remind strict compliance with regulations are being sent to vessel owners.

“During inspection at sea, besides handling violations, we also meet fishers directly to explain and remind them about legal obligations. These communication efforts have helped change awareness and behavior among fishers, vessel owners, and captains, preventing them from operating in foreign waters and ensuring compliance while fishing at sea.” Nguyen Van Tam, Head of Provincial Fisheries Sub-department and the Fisheries Surveillance, said.

“Whenever our boat returns to port, we hear announcements about IUU violations, especially the heavy penalties for fishing in foreign waters. Now, we almost remember them by heart. I always remind my crew to operate only within Vietnamese water areas because fishing abroad is illegal, causing severe punishment”, Nguyen Van Tai (Binh An Commune) shared.

To prepare for a long offshore trip, Captain Nguyen Van Tuan (Chau Thanh Commune) carefully went over his fishing gear, machinery, and vessel monitoring system. Before departure, he brought all required documents to the Kenh Dai Border Guard Station for departure procedures. “Thanks to guidance from border guard officers, I follow all required procedures, including opening the VMS device on 24/7, and checking our coordinates to ensure that we never cross maritime boundaries. I believe that if fishers fully understand and comply with fisheries regulations, it will help Vietnam have its IUU yellow card lifted sooner”, he said.

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