Reconnaissance Unit No. 2 Promotes IUU Fishing Prevention Among Fishermen
	Research on Using Military Aircraft in Controlling IUU Fishing

The conference assessed that over the past month, the Viet Nam Coast Guard has strictly followed all directives, official telegrams, messages, and guidance documents issued by the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Defense, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army. The force closely coordinated with relevant units and vigorously implemented synchronized and comprehensive measures in line with the directives for the high-intensity IUU combat campaign.

Lieutenant General Le Quang Dao, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army and Head of the Ministry of National Defense’s Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing, directs the conference. (Photo: People's Army Newspaper)

Efforts were intensified in communication, information exchange, monitoring, supervision, and management of fishing vessels through the Coast Guard Command Center and affiliated units. Patrols, inspections, and handling of IUU violations were carried out alongside strengthened international cooperation and defense diplomacy to exchange information on detained vessels and fishermen. These measures form a closed-loop process to resolutely combat IUU violations, aiming to remove the European Commission’s yellow card on Viet Nam’s seafood exports by 2025.

Notably, the Coast Guard deployed 109 vessel and boat sorties with nearly 2,500 officers and soldiers concentrated at sea to carry out anti-IUU missions in key maritime areas. Around-the-clock duty was maintained at command centers to continuously monitor, assess, and analyze the activities of fishing vessels, promptly identifying suspicious targets for interception and prevention at sea.

Close coordination was carried out with Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group to complete the Ministry of National Defense’s fishing vessel management and monitoring software. The Coast Guard also increased the deployment of law enforcement officers and intelligence personnel in key areas to conduct technical surveillance and uncover, apprehend, and handle cases involving organizations or individuals facilitating or brokering illegal fishing by domestic vessels in foreign waters.

Speaking at the conference, Lieutenant General Le Quang Dao praised the achievements of Coast Guard officers and soldiers in combating IUU fishing, especially during the past month-long intensive campaign. To continue implementing the campaign effectively, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff requested that the Viet Nam Coast Guard closely coordinate with coastal localities and deploy synchronized, decisive anti-IUU measures under the directives of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Defense, the Chief of the General Staff, the National Steering Committee, and the Ministry of National Defense’s Steering Committee on IUU. This includes strong coordination in communication, public mobilization, patrols, law enforcement, and strict handling of violations.

Lieutenant General Le Quang Dao also requested the Party Committee of the Viet Nam Coast Guard to coordinate with the Party Committees of 21 coastal provinces and centrally governed cities to renew the civil-military program “Coast Guard accompanies fishermen” following the restructuring of local authorities. The force should also advise and propose that the Ministry of National Defense strengthen reconnaissance capabilities and monitoring assets to detect and prevent IUU violations early and from afar. Timely information-sharing and strict handling of Viet Nam’s fishing vessels violating IUU regulations must continue, with complete administrative violation records updated into the national IUU violation database in preparation for the European Commission’s fifth inspection.

Lieutenant General Le Quang Dao further emphasized that the Viet Nam Coast Guard must continue enhancing measures to support and protect fishermen operating legally, ensuring they can safely work at sea; maintain readiness in personnel and equipment for maritime search and rescue; strengthen international cooperation and defense diplomacy to share information and request assistance from law enforcement forces of neighboring coastal states in support of Viet Nam’s determination to remove the yellow card. The force should also participate in reviewing, amending, and completing the Government’s decree on administrative penalties in the fisheries sector and continue promoting the application of technology in monitoring, management, and supervision of fishing vessels to achieve long-term effectiveness.

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