Officials violating IUU rules will be strictly punished and deemed unfit for duty

The Da Nang People’s Committee has just held a meeting to implement solutions to end illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, aiming to lift the European Commission’s (EC) “yellow card” warning during its fifth inspection.

According to a report from Da Nang’s Department of Agriculture and Environment, the city currently has 4,142 fishing vessels measuring six meters or longer. Nearshore vessels account for the highest proportion, with 2,338 boats (56.4%), followed by 614 midshore vessels (14.8%) and 1,190 offshore vessels (28.7%).

To date, all fishing vessels in the city have been registered, monitored, and placed under management. More than 4,000 vessels have been granted fishing licenses, reaching a rate of 96.7%. Notably, 100% of vessels 15 meters or longer operating offshore have been equipped with vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and are being closely tracked during fishing activities at sea.

Across the city, 223 fishing vessels are deemed unfit for operation, including four “three-no” vessels (no registration, no inspection, no fishing license) and 219 vessels with expired licenses or expired inspection certificates. The Fisheries Sub-Department has compiled a monitoring list of these vessels, transferred it to local authorities for strict supervision, and regularly updates their operational status and anchoring locations.

Since 2024, Da Nang has recorded no cases of local fishing vessels violating foreign waters and being detained or sanctioned. The city has handled 191 administrative violations with total fines exceeding VND 9.8 billion, with 100% of offending vessels having paid their fines.

From early 2025 until now alone, the city has dealt with 66 administrative violations totaling VND 6.9 billion, the majority involving VMS disconnection - 42 out of 66 cases - with fines amounting to more than VND 6.3 billion.

To fully address the remaining shortcomings in combating IUU fishing, the Da Nang People’s Committee has issued Directive No. 04/CT-UBND, requiring coastal departments, sectors, and localities to take strong and effective measures against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, ensuring that no fishing vessels from the city violate foreign waters.

Heads of agencies, units, or localities where violations occur - jeopardizing efforts to lift the “yellow card” - will be held accountable before the Chairman of the People’s Committee.

The Directive requires the Department of Agriculture and Environment to review and strictly manage all fishing vessels by August 30; operate the vessel monitoring system (VMS) around the clock; ensure 100% vessel checks at border guard stations; and strictly handle “three-no” vessels as well as violations related to VMS installation. The city’s police are tasked with strengthening investigations and handling of brokers facilitating illegal fishing in foreign waters, while also preventing the use of explosives and electric shocks in fishing activities.

Coastal communes and wards must link the accountability of their leaders to IUU prevention outcomes, require fishermen to sign commitments against violations, ensure proper vessel marking, strictly supervise “three-no” vessels, and submit weekly and monthly reports.

Mr. Tran Nam Hung, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, affirmed that combating IUU fishing is identified as a key and ongoing task, to be implemented with the highest determination and the coordinated involvement of the entire political system. Recently, the city has issued strong and continuous directives, with August and September this year designated as the peak enforcement period.

The People’s Committee has assigned specific responsibilities to each department, sector, locality, and individual, ensuring every task has a person accountable. The Department of Agriculture and Environment serves as the lead advisory body. At the same time, related units and localities have been given clear assignments and are fully responsible for implementation, supervision, and inspection. Every official, especially heads of agencies and units, must take direct responsibility before the Chairman of the People’s Committee for the implementation results. Any failure, particularly violations of Directive No. 04, will be considered a failure to fulfill 2025 duties.

“Violations will be handled strictly, fairly, and with ‘no exceptions.’ Fishermen who break the law must be sanctioned in accordance with regulations, with no leniency based on personal circumstances. Likewise, officials who allow violations or neglect management responsibilities will face corresponding disciplinary action. This stance reflects Da Nang’s determination to have the EC’s ‘yellow card’ lifted, while safeguarding the reputation and long-term interests of the city’s fisheries sector,” Mr. Hung stressed.

$ 1 = VND 26.269 - Source: Vietcombank.