HCMC tightens IUU fishing combat: not repeating past mistakes

On the morning of November 5, during a field inspection in Thanh An, Can Gio, and An Thoi Dong communes, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Bui Minh Thanh emphasized that the city must not be complacent in combating IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) fishing, especially during this critical period.

“The fight against IUU fishing is not a short-term campaign but a regular, continuous task. The city must act stronger and more decisively,” Mr. Thanh directed.

The three communes in Can Gio District currently harvest an average of 1,000 tons of seafood per month, managing a total of 326 fishing vessels with over 1,200 crew members. Among these, 29 vessels are longer than 15 meters, 120 vessels range between 12 and 15 meters, and 177 vessels are between 6 and 12 meters long. Thanh An Commune manages 137 vessels, while Can Gio Commune manages 186 vessels.

According to Ms. Pham Thi Na, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Ho Chi Minh City, the management of fishing vessels has achieved positive results, with the licensing rate reaching 98% as of October 31, 2025. She stated: “The vessels that have not yet been licensed are mostly temporarily inactive. However, vessel owners still cooperate with functional forces when required. We have directed the Fisheries Sub-Department and Fisheries Surveillance Unit to urgently complete procedures to ‘de-register’ boats that are decayed, missing, or no longer operational to clean up management data.”

However, according to the Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, these results are still insufficient for Ho Chi Minh City to be confident as the journey to lift the “yellow card” enters its decisive phase. He requested that Can Gio District and other coastal localities tighten control over voyage monitoring, vessel operations, and law compliance.

“No vessel should lack registration, be without a VMS (vessel monitoring system), or operate in violation of regulations. The goal is for 100% of fishing vessels to be connected to monitoring systems,” Mr. Thanh stressed.

For vessels meeting operational requirements, the city directed early warnings to be enhanced for those at risk of violating foreign waters. Meanwhile, the 239 unqualified vessels must be thoroughly addressed. City leaders announced plans to gather all such vessels at centralized monitoring sites, publicly post identification signs, and possibly install surveillance cameras. Decayed boats must be salvaged from the water to prevent pollution, with owners bearing the costs.

Another key directive was to trace, track, and handle vessels reported missing. “No case must be overlooked. If there are signs of violations, criminal responsibility must be considered,” Mr. Thanh instructed.

Regarding sanctions, the city demanded that enforcement agencies apply stricter measures:

Vessels that lose VMS connection without a valid justification must be brought ashore or handled at their place of residence, and unlicensed vessels must be immediately detained at sea.

“If fishing gear or caught products are found, criminal prosecution must be considered,” he stated.

The city also required strict management of seafood purchasing activities, particularly cases where product origin cannot be verified, as this is one of the issues criticized by the European Commission (EC) in its assessment of Vietnam. Additionally, the city emphasized continuing education and awareness campaigns for fishermen, viewing this as a core solution to establish a culture of law compliance.

At the end of the inspection, the Vice Chairman affirmed that the city’s goal is to ensure no weak links in the entire chain, from vessel management and maritime operations to seafood purchasing.

“Combating IUU fishing is not about coping with international inspections. It is the responsibility of Ho Chi Minh City, of the fisheries sector, and of every fisherman to uphold the nation’s reputation,” Mr. Thanh stated firmly.

In recent months, Ho Chi Minh City has not only tightened management but also begun criminal prosecution of IUU-related violations, creating a strong deterrent effect. Statistics show that the city has prosecuted nine criminal cases related to fishing vessel violations. The Border Guard and Fisheries Surveillance forces have been directed to maintain a “zero-tolerance” approach; any case that meets the criteria for criminal charges must be publicly prosecuted.

In addition, the city has sanctioned over 180 violations, with total fines exceeding VND 6.7 billion. The combined use of criminal and administrative penalties and real-time VMS monitoring has become a lever demonstrating Ho Chi Minh City’s determination to help remove the IUU yellow card.