[REVISION HISTORY]

Vietnam IUU fishing enforcement and management

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-08 21:56 UTC → 2026-09-10 05:45 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Vietnam is intensifying its efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to address the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning. Initial efforts focused on strengthening maritime support and enforcement. Authorities in Bach Long Vi identified vessels attempting to falsify location data by hiding Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) devices on third-party ships. In Ninh Binh, management has increased controls on vessel entry, catch logs, and electronic traceability. The Vietnam Coast Guard has also provided maritime safety assistance and community outreach, including medical support for fishing families. To meet a September 10, 2026, deadline for evaluating IUU prevention, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has deployed interdisciplinary inspection teams across coastal provinces. In Nghệ An, authorities launched a peak month of tightened management to ensure 100% accurate data updates for the 2,642 vessels requiring registration on the national VNFishbase database. This includes monitoring VMS and enforcing safety requirements before port departure. Coast Guard operations have expanded to include active patrols in border sea areas to prevent smuggling and drug trafficking. In Da Nang, Coast Guard Command Region 2 has implemented direct outreach at Tam Quang Fishing Port, visiting homes and vessels to educate fishermen on mandatory 24/7 VMS maintenance, accurate activity logging, and boundary adherence. Additionally, Coast Guard Command Region 3 has introduced “mock trials” to demonstrate the legal consequences of violations, such as tampering with VMS devices, highlighting the impact of illegal fishing on national reputation and local livelihoods. As part of a month-long nationwide campaign launched on August 15, authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have undergone inspections by a delegation from the Ministry of National Defence’s Steering Committee. Recent developments have expanded focus toward improving fishing port infrastructure and logistics to enhance safety and traceability.

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