HCMC tightens fishing vessel management ahead of EC inspection

On October 20, the Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing of Ho Chi Minh City, led by Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Bui Minh Thanh, conducted reality inspections at key fishing ports and sea areas in Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The delegation directly surveyed Cat Lo fishing port (Phuoc Thang ward), boarded a fisheries surveillance ship to examine fishermen's compliance with legal regulations along the Dinh River, and held working sessions with management units at Incomap fishing port (Vung Tau ward). The activities aimed to evaluate the city's fishing vessel management work in preparation for the European Commission (EC)'s fifth inspection related to lifting the "yellow card" warning imposed on Vietnamese seafood.

According to a report from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment, the city currently has 887 out of 4,857 vessels that fail to meet operational requirements, accounting for 20.35%. These include 281 vessels docked at shore, 143 reported missing, 18 sold outside the province, 6 sold within the province, 11 with incorrect technical specifications or fishing licenses, 150 newly expired or recently transferred, and 278 under verification.

"Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has a total of 711 fishing vessels classified as high-risk for violations. Among them, 4 vessels currently operating offshore have lost connection with their Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) devices for over six hours but less than ten days. The remaining 707 vessels are anchored ashore and under strict supervision," said Mr. Dang Van Luong, Deputy Director of the HCMC Sub-Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance.

Ms. Pham Thi Na, Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Environment, affirmed that the city remains resolute in strictly penalizing any deliberate violations of IUU fishing regulations, ensuring there are no "exempt zones" or exceptions in law enforcement.

According to Ms. Na, fishing vessel management in HCMC is now conducted in a transparent, synchronized, and digitalized manner. All fishing vessels are required to install VMS devices and implement electronic catch documentation and traceability (eCDT) when entering or leaving ports. Vessels categorized as "3 No's" (no registration, no inspection, and no licenses) are subject to thorough inspection and strict handling and are prohibited from operating.

The city has also strengthened control at fishing ports, resolutely prohibiting vessels that fail to meet operational requirements from setting sail. At the same time, the city has accelerated communication campaigns to raise fishermen's awareness of their obligations to comply with international regulations.

"Strict handling is not only to meet the recommendations of the EC, aiming at lifting the 'yellow card,' but also to build a sustainable and responsible fisheries sector, ensuring long-term livelihoods for fishermen," emphasized Ms. Pham Thi Na, Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Environment.

Speaking at the working session, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Bui Minh Thanh acknowledged the efforts of coastal localities in managing fishing vessels, particularly in closely monitoring those unqualified to depart. He stressed that the current period is the "sprint stage" before the EC inspection delegation's working sessions. Therefore, departments, agencies, and border guard forces must maintain high focus and synchronously implement measures to remove the "yellow card." Especially, the units need to pay attention to investing in fishing port infrastructure, improving the quality of vessel monitoring systems, and supporting fishermen in transitioning to sustainable livelihoods.

"This is an urgent, top-priority task. To prevent violations, we must ensure that fishermen are properly equipped and legally qualified to go offshore while understanding and supporting the State's policies. Once these measures are implemented in a synchronized manner, IUU violations will be minimized to the lowest level," Mr. Thanh emphasized.

Currently, Vung Tau ward has 674 fishing vessels and two Type 2 fishing ports. The local government is strengthening the control of vessel arrivals and departures, coordinating environmental protection efforts, managing docked vessels, and assisting with traceability of harvested seafood products.

At the conclusion of the inspection, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Minh Thanh assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to consolidate recommendations from fishing ports and coastal localities to propose solutions for overcoming difficulties, ensuring complete documentation and solid evidence to serve the EC inspection delegation, and moving toward the goal of lifting the "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood.