Nghe An makes combating IUU a top priority

With 2,634 registered fishing vessels and more than 11,000 people directly employed in marine capture fisheries, Nghe An Province is one of the leading fishing localities in Vietnam's North Central Coast region.

Recognizing the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a matter of critical political importance, Nghe An Province has, in recent years, vigorously implemented a wide range of measures to address the recommendations issued by the European Commission (EC).

On-the-ground assessments indicate that Nghe An has made comprehensive progress in combating IUU fishing through strengthened management and monitoring of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, tighter oversight of seafood landings, and expanded installation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS).

As of May 2026, 100% of the province's fishing vessels had been registered, painted with official registration numbers, and properly marked in accordance with regulations, with all vessel information fully updated in the Vnfishbase database. More than 99% of fishing vessels measuring 15 meters or longer had installed vessel monitoring systems (VMS), while over 99% had completed identity verification through the VNeID platform. In addition, 100% of vessel owners and captains engaged in offshore fishing had signed commitments pledging not to conduct fishing activities in foreign waters in violation of the law.

Notably, since the beginning of 2026, Nghe An Province has not recorded a single case of a local fishing vessel engaging in illegal fishing activities in foreign waters, reflecting the effectiveness of the province's enforcement measures and compliance efforts.

Bringing fishing activities into full compliance requires strengthening public awareness campaigns alongside intensified patrols, inspections, and enforcement across coastal waters, nearshore fishing grounds, and particularly in beach areas, prohibited fishing zones, and marine protected areas.

In line with these directives, in April 2026 the Nghe An Sub-Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance coordinated with the Provincial Border Guard Command, the Provincial Police, and People's Committees of coastal communes and wards to conduct three joint patrol and inspection campaigns, during which seven administrative violations were detected and documented.

In May 2026, the Nghe An Sub-Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance also organized a training course for 145 fishing vessel owners and crew members from Dien Chau Commune to raise awareness of regulations on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as other relevant legal provisions.

One of the key topics covered during the training was the use of vessel monitoring systems (VMS). Participants received detailed guidance on managing, operating, and interpreting VMS data to ensure that fishing vessels remain within authorized fishing grounds and avoid encroaching into foreign waters.

During the training session, officials and fishermen devoted considerable time to discussing practical situations encountered at sea and addressing questions to help prevent unfortunate incidents. The programme proved highly practical, directly strengthening legal awareness among fishermen in Dien Chau in particular and the fisheries sector in Nghe An as a whole, while contributing to Vietnam's broader efforts to secure the removal of the European Commission's "yellow card" warning.

Despite the progress made, Nghe An continues to face a number of challenges in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Key issues include inadequate fisheries infrastructure, the deterioration of several fishing ports and storm shelters, and the siltation of navigation channels, all of which have affected the management and monitoring of fishing vessels.

During a working visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, led by Vice Minister Vo Van Hung, Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing, in late May 2026, Mr. Nguyen Van De, Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, reaffirmed that combating IUU fishing remains a key priority for ensuring the sustainable and law-compliant development of the fisheries sector.

Based on the realities on the ground, Nghe An expressed its hope that the central government, together with relevant ministries and agencies, will continue to provide guidance and support to help the province implement anti-IUU measures more comprehensively and effectively.