The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has carried out drastic measures and exerted efforts to clamp down on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as an inspection team of the European Commission (EC) will visit Vietnam very soon. The provincial People’s Committee has directed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) to work closely with the Naval Region 2 Command, Coast Guard Regions 3 and 4 commands, and the fisheries surveillance force to get updated with the operation of fishing vessels, and detect, investigate and handle violations in a timely manner. Besides, the province has joined hands with other coastal cities and provinces to deal with IUU fishing as Vietnam is striving to carry out the EC’s recommendations in this regard. It set the target of all fishing vessels having their registration and marking completed, fishing licences issued, and vessel monitoring systems (VMS) installed as required by the EC. To date, the rate of vessels equipped with VMS devices, registe
red, and getting food safety certificates as well as fishing licenses has approximated 100%.

Source: Vietnam News Agency