An Giang (VNA) - The People’s Council of southern An Giang province has approved a resolution offering support to fishing vessel owners to upgrade or replace vessel monitoring systems (VMS), stepping up efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).
Entities and individuals owning fishing vessels 15m or longer registered in An Giang that installed VMS equipment before May 19, 2024, but whose devices fail to meet technical standards under the Government’s Decree 41/2026/ND-CP which details Fisheries Law provisions and enforcement will qualify for assistance to upgrade or replace equipment to comply with the new requirements.
The provincial budget will cover 50% of actual invoiced costs, capped at 5 million VND (192 USD) per vessel for upgrades and 11 million VND for replacements, with vessel owners paying the remainder. The policy is framed as a shared state-citizen responsibility aimed at driving regulatory compliance. The support runs through December 31, 2026.
To prevent abuse, vessel owners must hold valid fishing vessel registration certificates, fishing licenses and technical safety certificates. Eligible vessels must have no record of IUU violations, illegal crossing of maritime boundaries, or intentional disabling of VMS equipment, except in force majeure cases. After upgrading or replacement, devices must maintain a stable connection with the fishing vessel monitoring system and fully meet the technical standards under Decree 41/2026/ND-CP. Each vessel is eligible for support only once and must not have received similar aid from another locality.
Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, said the anti-IUU fishing subsidy reflects the province’s political determination to join the nationwide push to have the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted. The issue, he said, extends beyond fisheries and fishermen’s livelihoods to Vietnam’s national reputation and its international commitments to responsible, sustainable and law-abiding fisheries development.
The move is a concrete step in Vietnam’s IUU fishing crackdown, aimed at improving the country’s global image and credibility. Meeting the EC’s requirements is expected to open stronger growth opportunities for Vietnamese seafood exports in Europe and other markets with strict traceability standards, Nhan added.
According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, all fishing vessels licensed for exploitation in the province have so far installed VMS. Nine inactive vessels that have yet to install the devices have had their docking coordinates updated on Google Maps./.
