HCMC cracks down on IUU violations, ‘no exemptions or off-limits zones’

Despite repeated warnings, some fishermen continue to defy the European Commission’s (EC) Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations. In response, Ho Chi Minh City has ramped up penalties to deter violations, safeguard marine resources, and contribute to Vietnam’s effort to have the EC’s “yellow card” lifted.

According to the city’s Fisheries and Fishery Surveillance Sub-Department, from 2024 to date, authorities have handled 151 fisheries violations with total fines reaching 5.7 billion VND. Most offences , 130 cases worth over 5.5 billion VND, involved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) tampering, including turning off, removing, or failing to install tracking devices to conceal illegal fishing beyond national boundaries.

Mac Thi Nga, Head of the Fisheries and Fishery Surveillance Sub-Department, said Ho Chi Minh City currently has nearly 4,800 registered fishing vessels, with more than 97% of offshore boats equipped with VMS devices. “This marks significant progress, but some vessel owners still deliberately turn off or remove their tracking devices to hide violations”, she noted. “If not addressed promptly, such actions risk a resurgence of illegal fishing in foreign waters”.

In previous years, authorities have escalated enforcement. The People’s Court of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province held mobile trials convicting fishermen for disabling VMS devices to conduct illegal fishing. In more serious cases, criminal charges were filed , such as the six-year prison sentence for the owner and captain of vessel BD-30933-TS, who organized the illegal departure of others by sea, or a three-and-a-half-year sentence for individuals obstructing the VMS network and unlawfully retaining devices. Cases of falsified seals and documents at designated fishing ports have even led to port suspensions and disruptions to seafood traceability.

Nga added that violations have become increasingly sophisticated, from operating near maritime boundaries to transferring vessel ownership to evade inspection. “Our patrol forces remain limited and share responsibilities for maritime security, so evidence collection, especially for offences occurring in foreign waters, remains challenging”, she said.

Authorities have detected more than 1,700 instances of lost VMS signals. Ninety vessels have already been fined over 3.4 billion VND, and the remainder are under investigation in coordination with other provinces.

Nguyen Bi, Head of the Fisheries Exploitation Division, said while most fishermen now comply with IUU regulations, “a few continue to exploit management loopholes, such as changing vessel ownership or cutting VMS signals at sea”.

“The city’s stance is clear: strict enforcement with no exemptions or off-limits zones, regardless of vessel size or owner status”, Bi stressed. “Violators’ names will be made public in the media as a strong deterrent”.

Together with national authorities, HCMC is working to eliminate IUU violations, restore export credibility, and strengthen Vietnam’s fisheries reputation. Border guards, the coast guard, and fisheries surveillance units now conduct 24/7 patrols and monitoring, promptly detecting boundary breaches and abnormal VMS disconnections. Fishing ports are required to strictly follow seafood origin certification procedures , any port involved in falsified records will be delisted from the EC-approved system, directly affecting fishermen’s livelihoods.

Beyond penalties, the city is pursuing long-term solutions, including interprovincial coordination, tighter control of fishing logs and landings, and public disclosure of violations to enhance transparency.

During a recent working session with Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien, Nguyen Van Tho, Standing Vice Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, proposed that the central government soon issue policies to support occupational transition for nearshore fishermen and encourage young workers to remain in the fisheries sector, helping to build a more responsible and sustainable industry.

The EC’s yellow card, imposed on Vietnam in 2017, has significantly complicated seafood exports, adding compliance costs, stricter documentation, and lower market value. With HCMC now one of the country’s largest fishing hubs after recent administrative restructuring, the pressure is immense, as its annual catch reaches hundreds of thousands of tonnes.

Tough enforcement, including administrative fines and criminal prosecution, is not only a deterrent but also a means to protect fishermen’s long-term livelihoods. Continued violations risk further market losses, directly affecting tens of thousands of marine workers. Officials emphasized that preventing IUU fishing is not merely an international obligation but a national responsibility in building a modern, transparent, and sustainable fisheries sector.

$ 1 = VND 26.365 - Source: Vietcombank.