Combat IUU Fishing: Lam Dong ramps up IUU fishing crackdown, closely following EC recommendations: Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

A key priority has been tightening the management of fishing fleets while raising fishermen’s compliance with regulations.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment reported that all 8,205 fishing vessels have been fully registered and updated in the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), enabling authorities to track legal status, operations and voyage histories more effectively.

According to reports of the provincial Steering Committee for combating IUU fishing, at present, around 90% of local vessels hold valid fishing licences. Boats lacking sufficient documentation are strictly monitored, barred from leaving ports, and tracked weekly via the voyage monitoring systems (VMS). Notably, more than 99% of vessels measuring 15 metres or longer—those required to install VMS—have complied. Since early 2026, no cases of VMS signal loss at sea have been recorded.

At the grassroots level, local authorities have strengthened inspections and coordination. In Tan Hai commune, for example, police, local officials and border guards have conducted thorough checks on vessel documentation, crew information and VMS operation, preventing non-compliant boats from setting sail.

Public awareness campaigns have also been expanded. Authorities have organised dozens of outreach sessions and required hundreds of vessel owners to sign commitments not to violate foreign waters. Community-based models such as “Safe fishing vessel groups” and “fishing self-management teams” have been effectively maintained, helping foster solidarity and support among fishermen during offshore operations.

Innovative approaches, such as mock trials on IUU violations held in key fishing localities, have helped fishermen better understand legal consequences and long-term impacts.

Local fishermen say these efforts have improved their awareness. Compliance is now seen not only as a legal obligation but also as a way to protect marine resources and enhance the reputation of Vietnam’s seafood industry in global markets.

The local authorities have identified law enforcement as the key pillar of the work, prioritising administrative sanctions against IUU fishing to ensure deterrence and uphold the rule of law, with all violations - especially incursions into foreign waters - strictly handled.

Since 2024, the local authorities have handled hundreds of administrative violations, imposing fines worth billions of VND. In the first months of 2026 alone, more than 40 cases were penalised. All violations related to VMS disconnection or illegal boundary crossing in 2024–2025 have been fully addressed, reflecting stricter enforcement in line with EC recommendations.

Based on the recommendations made by the EC’s inspection mission following its visit to Vietnam from March 10–19, Lam Dong will continue to tighten monitoring of both active and docked vessels, enhance catch traceability through camera systems and data cross-checking, and promptly handle irregularities.

The province is also accelerating support policies for fishermen, including subsidies for VMS satellite services and livelihood transition programmes to ease pressure on marine resources.

With long-term strategies in place to modernise and restructure the fisheries sector toward sustainability, Lam Dong views the fight against IUU fishing as both an urgent and enduring priority contributing to Vietnam’s efforts to have the EC’s “yellow card” removed and build a responsibly and globally integrated fisheries industry./.