Da Nang sanctions 33 fishing vessels violating IUU fishing

Strictly manage the fleet

According to statistics, in Da Nang city, there are 1,548 fishing vessels with the largest length of 6 meters back, including 735 coastal fishing vessels, 206 offshore fishing vessels, and 607 fishing vessels in the open area. Up to now, all of the above fishing vessels have completed the full update of data into the National Fisheries Database. Currently, the city's fishing vessel management data matches data on the system. Along with that, 100% of Da Nang city's fishing vessels that are eligible for fishing activities have been painted and marked with their registration numbers as prescribed.

As of February 21, 2025, there are 85 fishing vessels in the city that are not eligible for fishing activities. The whole is vessels that have been registered but are late for inspection and have not yet been granted a fishing license. Of which, 31 fishing vessels have the largest length of 15 meters or more, and 54 fishing vessels have the largest length of 12 meters to under 15 meters.

For the above-mentioned number of fishing vessels that are not eligible for operation, the city has invented, made a list of monitoring, and assigned People's Committees of districts to strengthen management and monitoring of fishing vessels and regularly update the status of operations and location of local fishing vessels. Thereby ensuring timely information provision and requesting fishing vessel owners not to perform fishing activities when fishing vessels are not full of documents, fishing tools, and equipment for seafood exploitation. At the same time, the Fisheries Sub-Department, localities, and border guards are continuing to work with each owner to support the implementation of all kinds of documents as prescribed.

According to Mr. Tran Chi Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang City People's Committee, the city has completed reviewing, verifying, and completely handling IUU fishing acts. Since October 2023, 19 inspections and patrols at sea and at Tho Quang fishing port have been implemented.

Accordingly, detect and verify 512 fishing vessels showing signs of violation. Of which, 33 violating fishing vessels were sanctioned with the total amount of VND 789 million; 112 fishing vessels have been handled verification without violation; 355 fishing vessels, due to force majeure reasons, do not have enough basis to sanction; and 12 fishing vessels are continuing to verify and handle. Up to now,  serious violations of IUU fishing have not yet been detected in Da Nang city. Specifically, there are no fishing vessels of the city violating foreign waters, arrested, and handled; sending and transporting VMS equipment; brokering, connecting, and violating illegal fishing  in foreign waters.

Control the origin of seafood at the port

Mr. Tran Chi Cuong said that at present, 100% of fishing vessels docking at Tho Quang fishing port and unloading seafood all comply with the submission of the fishing diary and purchasing diary and are monitored output as prescribed. Data of fishing vessels docking and monitored output is updated into the monitoring book, reporting and retrieving data promptly. The tracking data of fishing vessels docking and unloading seafood at the port since October 2023 is 12,666 times with a total output of 65,765 tons.

The Management Board of the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and Port has collected 12,805 purchasing and fishing diaries. Successfully approve 5,768 turns of fishing vessels docking and declaring output to the wharf, and 6,028 fishing vessels departing on the electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability (eCDT) system.

Along with that, the Fisheries Control Representative Office received information about 12,240 fishing vessels docking at the port, provided by the port executive team of the Management Board of the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and Port. Make 3,314 records of inspection of fishing vessels docking and 1,946 records of inspection of fishing vessels departing. Issue 14 certifications of exploited seafood origin with a total certification volume of 90,218 kg and issue 146 certifications of exploited seafood with a total volume of 1,705,970.37 kg.

Upgrade and complete fishing infrastructure

Mr. Tran Chi Cuong said that Da Nang has only one fishing port combined with a storm sheltering area managed by the Management Board and the Tho Quang Wharf and Port, including a fishing port, seafood wholesale market, and storm shelter for fishing vessels, with a water surface area of ​​58 hectares and an onshore area of 6.2 hectares. Tho Quang fishing port has been announced as a designated fishing port, which is eligible to confirm the origin of exploited seafood.

Currently, Tho Quang fishing port is implementing phase 2 (2023-2025) of the Upgrade and Renovation Project, expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025 with an investment of VND 250 billion. In order to synchronize the infrastructure and fishing logistics, the city is researching and advising the feasibility report on the implementation of phase 3 of the Tho Quang Fishing Port Upgrade and Expansion Project, submitted to the Government for approval in the coming time.

* USD 1 = VND 25,320 (Exchange rate updated on March 14, 2025; Source: Vietcombank)