Quang Tri strives to remove the IUU “yellow card”

Strict compliance with regulations

These days, at the Nam Cua Viet harbour area, dozens of large-capacity fishing vessels are moored, preparing for long offshore trips.

Fisherman Bui Dinh Chien, from Quarter 6, Cua Viet Commune, owns a fleet of three vessels, each with a capacity of 800–900 CV, specialising in drift netting, squid jigging and squid trapping. All vessels are fully equipped with modern devices such as satellite positioning systems, sonar fish finders and communication equipment ranging from HF shortwave to medium- and long-range systems integrated with satellite positioning.

Before departure, Chien’s vessels complete all required procedures, from crew registration to sealing voyage monitoring devices in accordance with regulations. “Our vessel monitoring systems were installed long ago and operate 24/7. Whether on land or at sea, they must run continuously. We also keep full records of catch output and fishing logs as required,” he affirmed.

With more than 20 years of experience, fisherman Hoang Van Thu from Nam Cua Viet Commune said border guards and local authorities regularly organise awareness sessions on combating IUU fishing and share information via Zalo groups. Thanks to this, our crew clearly understand legal regulations when fishing at sea, reminding one another to operate within designated fishing grounds and not encroach on foreign waters.

Alongside fishermen’s proactive compliance, authorities have strengthened control over fishing activities right at the ports. According to Tran Thien Nhan, Head of Cua Viet Fishing Port, the port handles around 2,600 vessel arrivals and departures annually. It conducts inspections of fishing logs, monitors catch volumes and certifies vessel movements in line with regulations, contributing to IUU control.

Notably, more than 9,200 vessel movements have been supported and guided through the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT). This software offers significant advantages, enabling fishermen to quickly and accurately declare departures, arrivals and catch volumes, reducing errors associated with paper logs. At the same time, authorities can manage fleets more effectively, ensure transparency in traceability, support IUU prevention and facilitate export businesses in verifying origins and certifications.

Further strengthening vessel management

Within the jurisdiction of Trieu Van Border Guard Station, there are currently 147 fishing vessels engaged in seafood exploitation, including 11 vessels required to install vessel monitoring systems (VMS). These vessels mainly operate in fishing grounds from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai, using methods such as longlining, squid jigging, purse seining and drift netting.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan The, Deputy Political Commissar of the station, said that in 2025, the unit conducted hundreds of patrols along the coast, river mouths and nearshore waters. In coordination with other forces, it detected and handled 17 violations in the fisheries sector, imposing total fines of 165 million VND (6,200 USD). At the same time, it worked with local authorities to review and strictly manage vessels that do not meet operational conditions or pose a high risk of violating IUU regulations.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, relevant units and localities have now been fully briefed and assigned specific tasks in preparation for receiving and working with the EC inspection delegation. To date, 4,640 fishing vessels measuring 6 metres or longer have been registered. Meanwhile, the provincial Fisheries Sub-Department has compiled and regularly updated lists of vessels that do not meet operational requirements, sharing them with local authorities for monitoring.

In the first two months of 2026, authorities monitored 4,805 tonnes of seafood, accounting for 31.7% of total marine catch—significantly higher than in 2025. Port entry and exit procedures via the electronic traceability system (eCDT) have been strictly implemented, with 100% compliance among vessels measuring 15 metres or longer. Since 2024, Quang Tri has recorded no cases of local vessels being arrested or penalised for illegal fishing in foreign waters.

However, despite these results, challenges remain. Some vessels that do not meet operational requirements are still present in management records, while others no longer exist but have yet to be deregistered. The overall rate of catch monitoring remains low, particularly for small vessels under 12 metres operating in nearshore areas on day trips.

In response, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee Le Van Bao has urged relevant units and localities to continue strengthening legal awareness among fishermen and tighten vessel management. He also emphasised preparations for the EC inspection, including concentrating vessels over 15 metres in designated anchorage areas, strictly preventing unqualified vessels from going to sea, and ensuring fishing ports fully comply with procedures for vessel movements.

“Compliance with fisheries regulations must not only be observed during EC inspections but carried out rigorously, consistently and responsibly, with the goal of soon removing the ‘yellow card’ and building a sustainable fisheries sector,” he stressed.

From practical implementation, it is evident that efforts to combat IUU fishing in Quang Tri are gradually shifting from a campaign-based approach to a regularised practice. Addressing remaining shortcomings, refining management processes and maintaining discipline in fishing activities will be decisive factors in ensuring the stable and compliant development of the local fisheries sector in the coming period.

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