Controlling vessel movements through VMS. VNA/VNS Photo

NAM ĐỊNH– Along with increasing patrol on waters under its management, the border guard force of the northern province of Nam Định has strictly managed the movement of local fishing vessels to ensure that no vessel without enough documents and equipment can go offshore, thus preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Major Vũ Chí Công, head of the border post at Hải Thịnh Port said that along with combating all kinds of criminals in the sea border area, the post has sent officials and soldiers to local vessels to educate fishermen on IUU fishing prevention and control regulations.

As a result, the majority of local fishermen have thoroughly understood the regulations and have not violated regulations, Cong said.

Nguyễn Văn Tuấn, the captain of a local fishing boat, said that thanks to communications efforts of the border guard force of Nam Định, he and local fishermen have understood legal regulations related to offshore fishing, thus avoiding violations to foreign waters.

Lieutenant Colonel Phạm Văn Trường, head of the Border Guard Station at Hải Thịnh Port Border Gate said that in 2023 and the first four months of 2024, the provincial border guard force has inspected about 20,000 vehicles and 60,000 people, while conducting more than 10 patrols to protect the national sovereignty over sea areas in the Bắc Bộ (Tonkin) Gulf in association with IUU prevention and control.

Nam Định currently has about 1,760 operating fishing vessels, including 531 vessels with a length of 15m and above, of which 97 per cent have installed VMS devices, and the remaining are out of use.

Since the beginning of this year, local authorities have sanctioned over 20 administrative violations with total fine of over VNĐ230 million (US$9,037).

Colonel Cao Xuân Thủy, Deputy Political Commissar of the Border Guard Command of Nam Định said that in order to join the whole country’s efforts in removing the European Commission’s "yellow card" on Vietnamese fisheries sector, the provincial border guard force will continue strengthening communications and patrol activities, promptly detecting and handling violations on IUU fishing, and intensifying law enforcement measures to absolutely prevent fishing vessels that fail to show necessary documents from going to sea. VNS