Gia Lai Determined to Remove IUU “Yellow Card” for Fisheries
	Comprehensive Review to Combat IUU Fishing

On the afternoon of February 24, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired the 31st meeting of the National Steering Committee on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. The meeting was held online with 21 coastal provinces and cities with fishing vessels. Cao Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, along with members of the provincial Steering Committee on IUU prevention, attended at the Thanh Hoa meeting point.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Cao Van Cuong speaks after the online conference. (Photo: Le Hoa, Agriculture and Environment Newspaper)

In Thanh Hoa, after a period of focused direction and synchronized implementation of solutions, IUU fishing prevention has shown clear improvements, especially in fleet management, voyage monitoring, and violation handling. Along with administrative measures, the province has gradually improved mechanisms and policies to support fishermen. The Provincial People’s Council has issued resolutions on support levels for overcoming disaster risks at sea and on support for upgrading and replacing vessel monitoring system (VMS) equipment. The Provincial People’s Committee is also developing a policy on livelihood conversion and decommissioning fishing vessels that no longer need to operate, expected to be submitted to the Provincial People’s Council in March 2026.

According to statistics, as of February 23, Thanh Hoa province had 6,214 fishing vessels; 100% of vessels subject to registration have had their data updated in the national fisheries database (Vnfishbase) and Google Sheets. The province has deregistered 214 fishing vessels (due to dismantling, sinking, or sale to other provinces).

From January 27, 2026 to February 23, 2026, Thanh Hoa recorded no fishing vessels losing VMS connection for more than six hours, losing connection for over 10 days, or crossing permitted maritime boundaries. However, there were six instances of vessels at risk of losing connection for more than six hours. Cumulatively, from the beginning of 2026 to date, there have been 18 instances of vessels losing connection for more than six hours while operating at sea.

Patrol, inspection, law enforcement, and violation handling have been carried out seriously and effectively by functional forces. From the beginning of 2026 to February 23, 2026, a total of 391 fishing vessels committing administrative violations in the fisheries sector were sanctioned, with total fines amounting to 10.5 billion VND. In addition, the task force reviewing case files on vessels losing VMS connection examined 1,185 provincial case files closed without penalties. Of these, 395 files met the conditions for closure without penalties, while 790 did not meet regulatory closure requirements.

Functional forces disseminate information to fishermen on combating IUU fishing at Thanh Hoa Fishing Port. (Photo: Quoc Toan, Agriculture and Environment Newspaper)

Speaking immediately after the online meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Cao Van Cuong highly appreciated the strong involvement and violation handling results of communes and wards across the province, contributing to positive outcomes in IUU fishing prevention. He emphasized that the time for the EC inspection delegation to visit Vietnam to examine compliance with IUU regulations is approaching; sectors, localities, and units must uphold responsibility and be ready with working content and scenarios for engagement with the EC. He also stressed that removing the fisheries “yellow card” must be treated as a regular, continuous task with no endpoint.

The Vice Chairman requested departments, agencies, units, and localities to review files related to vessels losing connection; handle and sanction administrative violations in a synchronized manner in accordance with regulations; classify and arrange files scientifically to facilitate inspections by central authorities and the EC.

At the same time, localities were required to urgently verify cases of vessels losing voyage monitoring connection from the beginning of 2026 to date to ensure handling in accordance with legal procedures and report to the Provincial People’s Committee before March 1. Relevant sectors must also provide specific explanations for data discrepancies in the eCDT system (electronic catch documentation and traceability system) among units; strengthen coordination in controlling vessels entering and leaving ports.

To prepare for the EC’s fifth inspection, Vice Chairman Cao Van Cuong requested the Department of Agriculture and Environment to develop a specific and detailed plan to receive and work with the EC; communes and wards must adopt a proactive stance, prepare complete, accurate, and well-organized documentation, and join the nationwide effort to remove the fisheries “yellow card” in 2026.

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