Prime Minister Orders Decisive Action on IUU Violations, Readiness for EC Inspection
	Khanh Hoa Enhances Communication and Inspection to Prevent IUU Fishing Violations

Identifying IUU fishing prevention as a key task, Thanh Hoa has mobilised the combined strength of the entire political system, especially at the grassroots level, to closely grasp key areas, enhance communication and outreach, and promptly monitor, detect and prevent risks of violations.

Since 23 September 2025, the entire province has launched an intensive campaign against IUU fishing, with simultaneous participation from departments, sectors and local authorities in coastal communes and wards. As a result, the management of fishing vessels has become more orderly, with no new cases of vessels violating foreign waters and being detained or sanctioned.

The competent authorities inspect fishing vessels operating at sea. (Photo: Thanh Hoa Provincial Fisheries Sub-Department)

The province has achieved a 100% rate of fishing vessels equipped with vessel monitoring systems (VMS), maintaining 24/7 connectivity while operating at sea. Law enforcement has been strengthened, with 140 vessels that had long-term VMS disconnection from 2024 to 11 November 2025 fully addressed, and 30 vessels lacking operational eligibility closely monitored.

Border guard forces and fisheries surveillance units regularly coordinate patrols and inspections at estuaries and at sea, firmly refusing departure clearance for vessels that do not activate VMS or fail to meet required conditions and documentation. From the beginning of the year to 21 November 2025, competent authorities have sanctioned 284 IUU violations with total fines exceeding 4.3 billion VND.

Thanks to comprehensive implementation, violations have sharply decreased, and fishermen’s awareness of legal compliance has improved. Le Cong Hong, owner of vessel TH-90319-TS (Ngoc Son Ward), shared: “Through communication from the authorities, fishermen increasingly understand the harm of illegal fishing and proactively comply with regulations such as keeping fishing logs, turning on VMS and not encroaching on foreign waters.”

Despite significant progress, the locality still faces several challenges, especially in controlling vessel arrivals and departures at ports and monitoring unloaded aquatic products. The main cause lies in the lack of synchronisation among data management systems, including VNeID, Vnfisbase and the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT); inconsistent eCDT implementation across ports; and unstable software operation, particularly when vessels change technical specifications.

At the end of this year, the EC inspection team will conduct its fifth review, focusing on addressing the shortcomings identified in the previous inspection. Thanh Hoa is urgently completing dossiers, documents and technical specifications to demonstrate the effectiveness of implementing the EC’s recommendations, while also preparing a detailed plan for welcoming and coordinating with the inspection team to clearly show the province’s determination in combating IUU fishing.

With proactive, determined and well-coordinated efforts across all levels and sectors, Thanh Hoa hopes to join the entire country in meeting the EC’s requirements, contributing to the removal of the “yellow card” for Viet Nam’s fisheries sector in the near future.

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