Nghe An: Over 400 IUU violations penalized

On the morning of September 23, the People’s Committee of Nghe An province held a meeting of the Provincial Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Nguyen Van De, Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee. Attendees included leaders of provincial departments and the chairpersons of communes and wards with fishing vessels.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, as of September 17, 2025, the province had 2,625 registered fishing vessels, achieving 100% registration and full updates in the Vnfishbase database. Over 99% of these vessels have added citizen identification information and installed Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) devices.

Violations related to VMS and fishing beyond designated boundaries have decreased in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Notably, since the beginning of the year, no fishing vessels or fishers from Nghe An have been detained by foreign authorities.

Monitoring at fishing ports has been strictly implemented. In 2025, more than 22,000 fishing vessels were inspected, with landed seafood totaling over 80,000 tons, accounting for nearly 49% of the province’s total catch.

Inter-agency teams handled 18 violations during vessel inspections at ports. Additionally, from the beginning of 2024 to the present, the province has sanctioned over 400 IUU violations, totaling nearly VND 7.7 billion.

Despite these achievements, management still faces challenges, such as vessels being bought and sold without ownership transfer, difficulty controlling boats moored outside the province, many vessels losing VMS connectivity for extended periods, and a relatively low rate of catch monitoring through ports.

In conclusion, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People’s Committee, Mr. Nguyen Van De, called on departments, authorities, and local governments to continue tightening management, especially targeting fishing vessels that do not meet operational standards.

Fishing ports must monitor 100% of unloaded catches and all vessels over 15 meters in length. At the same time, the province is preparing to work with the European Commission’s inspection team in the near future.

The fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a long-term task that requires coordinated action across the political system and the cooperation of fishers. Every vessel owner and crew member must uphold legal compliance, equip their boats with full monitoring devices, follow port regulations, maintain logs, and ensure traceability of seafood products.

Communes and wards with fishing vessels are stepping up awareness campaigns and encouraging fishers to fully comply with regulations. Coordinated grassroots measures are being implemented to mobilize the fishing community and relevant organizations or individuals to refrain from IUU fishing activities. Only when all fishers collectively adhere to these rules can Nghe An help the country lift the European Commission’s “yellow card,” fostering sustainable fisheries and international integration.