Preventing illegal fishing early and from afar

Coast Guard Region 3 Command, stationed in Phuoc Thang Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, is assigned to manage the sea area from Cu Lao Xanh, Gia Lai Province, to the northern bank of Dinh An Estuary, Vinh Long Province, covering about 1,095km in length and more than 615,000km² in area.

In response to the requirements of managing and protecting sovereignty and enforcing the law across this vast sea area, the Party Committee and Command of Coast Guard Region 3 have implemented measures in a synchronous and resolute manner across key directions and areas, especially the Viet Nam-Indonesia-Malaysia adjacent waters, the Truong Sa special zone and southern waters.

Accordingly, the region command has established a forward command post stationed in adjacent waters, issued specialised resolutions and plans, and defined tasks, responsibilities and implementation measures. In the early hours of August 23, while patrolling the Viet Nam-Indonesia adjacent waters, Coast Guard Region 3 quickly approached and successfully prevented three fishing vessels from heading into the waters of a neighbouring country. The Coast Guard force also detected signs of violations related to the installation and operation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) on these fishing vessels.

Earlier, in late 2025, Coast Guard Region 3 detected two fishing vessels from An Giang Province keeping vessel monitoring devices belonging to other boats and imposed fines totalling 166 million VND. In another case, a fishing vessel from Lam Dong Province was found keeping 19 vessel monitoring devices from other boats, prompting the initiation of criminal proceedings and prosecution of the accused in accordance with the law.

In addition, the Coast Guard has applied cross-checking measures, comparing VMS data recorded on shore with actual vessel positions, using reconnaissance information and relevant sources, and promoting the application of science and technology in monitoring and analysing fishing vessel tracking data around the clock.

According to Colonel Cao Vu Long, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Coast Guard Region 3 Command, the force not only handles vessel owners and captains directly violating IUU regulations, but also resolutely combats and handles masterminds, organisers, brokers and those who abet violations.

For fishing vessels encountering objective technical problems with VMS equipment, the Coast Guard proactively provides guidance and support for troubleshooting, while maintaining communication through backup means to ensure fishermen’s safety. If the problem cannot be fixed at sea, vessels are instructed to return to shore or move to areas where repairs can be made.

In the first six months of 2026, through fisheries communication channels, the Region Command reminded and disseminated information to more than 1,300 fishing vessels that lost VMS connection, and conducted direct awareness-raising for more than 10,000 fishing vessels with tens of thousands of crew members.

Tran Van Duc, 60, a fisherman in Phuoc Thang Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, shared: “After receiving information dissemination, I better understand legal regulations and the consequences of illegal fishing. I will discuss with and ask my children and grandchildren to strictly comply with the law on fisheries exploitation and not cross into foreign waters to catch squid.”

Colonel Nguyen Hong Chuyen, Political Commissar of the forward command post, said the important task is to bring the law to fishermen right on the fishing grounds, thereby raising their awareness of voluntary compliance and preventing violations.

According to Colonel Cao Vu Long, combating IUU fishing is not only an immediate task to contribute, together with the whole country, to removing the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning, but also a regular and long-term political task associated with protecting sovereignty, maintaining security and order at sea and developing sustainable fisheries. The consistent spirit is to avoid passivity or surprise, and to ensure that no violation is missed or overlooked.

In late August and early September 2026, a working delegation led by Colonel Lam Son Tung, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Viet Nam Coast Guard, conducted field inspections in Viet Nam’s adjacent waters with Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Colonel Lam Son Tung requested Party committees and commanders of vessels to continue strictly implementing all directives and orders at all levels; closely coordinate with forces in the field to successfully carry out the peak campaign to resolutely prevent fishing vessels from violating IUU regulations. On this occasion, the Viet Nam Coast Guard working delegation also conducted random inspections of a number of fishing vessels operating in the adjacent waters between Viet Nam and other countries.

With the resolute spirit, determination to fulfil assigned tasks and seriousness of competent forces, including the Coast Guard, violations by fishermen in the field will be eliminated. This will contribute to improving the chances of removing the EC’s “yellow card” in the coming period.