Kien Giang sees positive changes in combating IUU fishing. (Illustrative photo)

According to the provincial steering committee for combating IUU fishing, from August to November 2024, no local fishing vessels were reported to violate foreign waters.

Le Huu Toan, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the province has taken drastic measures to improve law enforcement, raise public awareness, enhance management, and strictly punish violations regarding IUU fishing. As a result, the number of vessels committing illegal fishing in foreign waters has reduced notably.

Toan said the province is particularly determined to effectively implement the four recommendations by the EC and directions by central government regarding IUU fishing prevention and control.

For the last seven years, the province’s political system has engaged in combating IUU fishing with high determination and efforts. Various concerted solutions have been deployed, including the establishment of communication teams, the provincial steering committee for combating IUU fishing, and the Fisheries Inspection Sub-Department to strengthen law enforcement at sea, prevent legal violations, maintain security and order, and protect aquatic resources.

The provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee have issued letters calling on fishermen and businesses to actively participate in the fight against IUU fishing.

Colonel Huynh Van Dong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Kien Giang Border Guard, highlighted that combating IUU fishing is a crucial political task for the force.

The local border guard force has built specialised resolutions and implemented plans relating to IUU fishing prevention and control, while launching an emulation movement encouraging all officers and soldiers to actively engage in communication activities, patrols and inspections to promptly identify and address IUU fishing.

Currently, all fishing vessels in Kien Giang have been equipped with vessel monitoring system (VMS) device. Vessels operating at sea are monitored all the time to promptly inform captains and ship owners of any disconnections. The province has also assisted vessels in paying satellite monitoring service fees for 22,350 fishing vessels, amounting to over 3.8 billion VND (150,000 USD). All fishing vessels in the province have registered and updated their information in the national fishing vessel database Vnfishbase.

Since the beginning of the year, 19 cases involving 24 fishing vessels violating foreign waters have been investigated and resolved, while 304 VMS-relating violations have been penalised. A total of 597 violations of fishing regulations at sea involving 638 fishing vessels have also been addressed, with two cases brought to trial, and criminal proceeding launched against 15 cases.