Stepping Up Practical Measures To Lift IUU “Yellow Card” through Fisheries Digitalization
	Joint Efforts Launched to Raise Awareness of IUU Fishing Prevention in Quang Tri

In the early mornings at Linh Huynh Border Guard Control Station, Linh Huynh Border Guard Post (An Giang province), the image of border guard officers directly checking vessel monitoring system (VMS) equipment and re-guiding operations that seem simple but are easily overlooked during long fishing trips has become familiar.

Border guard officers of Linh Huynh Border Guard Post patrol and control at sea and guide fishermen in complying with regulations against IUU fishing. (Photo: An Giang Newspaper and Radio-Television)

Hon Dat commune (An Giang province) currently has nearly 300 fishing vessels. In the context of nationwide efforts to tighten measures against IUU fishing, the pressure on local border guard forces is significant. An Giang Newspaper and Radio-Television quoted Major Phan Tan Phat, Deputy Political Officer of Linh Huynh Border Guard Post, as saying that each month the unit conducts from three to eight rounds of vessel outreach, combining equipment inspections with reminders about common mistakes made by fishermen. Onshore, border guard officers divide communication activities into small groups and visit households directly to talk and explain issues so that residents can more easily understand.

This hands-on, step-by-step approach has created a clear shift in fishermen’s awareness. Vo Ngoc Thu, residing in Vam Bien hamlet, said that in the past, he thought that fishing in the correct season was sufficient and paid little attention to maritime boundaries or maintaining VMS signals. “When officers came aboard and showed me each button to turn on the equipment, I understood that compliance is not about coping with inspections but about protecting myself and my fellow crew members. Since then, my vessel has always maintained a stable VMS signal,” Thu said.

For fishermen who regularly spend long periods at sea, such as Tran Huu Thanh from Linh Huynh hamlet, direct communication on board vessels has proven even more effective. “I rarely listen through a full large-group communication session. When officers come directly to the vessel and clearly explain each point, I immediately understand which sea areas are permitted for fishing and when the VMS device must be turned on,” Thanh said.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Bui Khac Duong, Head of Linh Huynh Border Guard Post, the process of persuading fishermen to change long-standing habits is far from easy. Fishermen stay at sea for long periods and have varying levels of comprehension; providing too much information at once makes it difficult to remember, while insufficient explanation can lead to confusion about new regulations. Therefore, the unit proactively divides content into smaller parts, prepares materials suitable for different target groups, and regularly organizes training to improve communication skills for officers, ensuring that legal information is concise, easy to understand, easy to remember and easy to implement.

This approach to mass mobilization, targeting the right people at the right time, has delivered clear results. From January 1 to November 30, 2025, Hon Dat commune recorded no cases of IUU fishing; 98 percent of vessels maintained VMS operation in accordance with regulations. Notably, many vessels that previously required frequent reminders have now proactively contacted functional forces to check signals before each fishing trip.

According to Nguyen Huu Ngoc, Deputy Head of the An Giang Provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization, Linh Huynh Border Guard Post has performed well in mass mobilization by “saying exactly what people need to hear, at the moment they need to hear it.” When fishermen understand and voluntarily comply, management becomes easier and more effective. This is a highly practical example of effective mass mobilization, contributing to the goal of lifting the IUU “yellow card” and protecting sustainable livelihoods for fishermen.

Not only in An Giang, at Song Doc fishing port (Ca Mau province) - one of the largest fishing ports in the Mekong Delta -communication and dissemination of legal regulations on fisheries exploitation are also conducted regularly and systematically. At Song Doc Border Guard Control Station, officers and soldiers combine direct communication on vessels with leaflet distribution and specific guidance for each vessel owner, captain and chief engineer.

As a result, cases of fishing vessels losing VMS signals or crossing maritime boundaries have declined markedly year by year, reflecting positive changes in fishermen’s compliance awareness. Secretary of the Song Doc Commune Party Committee Ma Minh Tam said that the locality identifies combating IUU fishing as a key task, linking the responsibility of each official to each fishing vessel. “Compliance with regulations is not only to lift the IUU yellow card, but also a responsibility to protect aquatic resources and ensure long-term livelihoods for the fishing community,” TTXVN quoted him as emphasizing.

Taking awareness-raising communication as the foundation, Song Doc commune coordinates with border guard and fisheries surveillance forces to review lists of high-risk vessels in order to provide timely reminders and supervision. Thanks to this, the number of violations has dropped sharply and fishermen’s compliance awareness has become increasingly evident.

Practical experience in Hon Dat, Song Doc and many other fishing ports shows that when fishermen understand correctly and act voluntarily, each fishing trip not only contributes to accelerating the process of lifting the IUU yellow card, but more importantly, helps protect marine resources and create a foundation for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

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