Experts gather at the regional workshop on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Đà Nẵng City. — Photo courtesy of the US Consulate General in HCM City

ĐÀ NẴNG — More than 70 regional and international officials and experts in fisheries law enforcement from around the world have joined the regional workshop on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the central city.

Representatives taking part are from the United States, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Việt Nam.

The workshop, which was organised by the US Mission in Việt Nam, through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the US Coast Guard, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries Surveillance of Việt Nam, is the third iteration of successful INL-funded regional IUU fishing workshops previously held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2022 and Cebu, Philippines in May 2023.

Participants shared discussions and updates on global IUU fishing trends, challenges facing the region’s fishing sector, information sharing initiatives, Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) overview, and fishing vessel monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) tools.

They also shared insights on how to address domestic and overseas IUU fishing violations through practical exercises based on realistic scenarios.

This regional workshop also presents a platform for partners to meet and exchange information on the current context of maritime law enforcement and seek opportunities to strengthen partnerships that help combat IUU fishing effectively.

This workshop is an example of how the new US-Việt Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership can address shared challenges in ways that make a lasting impact on future prosperity, as the US is committed to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific and a strong, prosperous, independent and resilient Việt Nam, according to the US Embassy.

Last year, the fishery industry in 28 coastal provinces of Việt Nam committed to take severe measures to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, to remove the 'yellow card' warning issued by the European Commission.

The Government, ministries and local authorities have been improving legal enforcement, supervision on the implementation of the law and traceability requirements through heavier fines for illegal fishing, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Fishermen from Bình Định province load for an offshore fishing trip. VNS Photo Công Thành

The ministry asked local authorities and fishery agencies to clarify the responsibilities of fishing boat management, reporting on the punishment of IUU-violated vessels and sharing information and data on fishing boat registration and catch among local authorities.

The government, ministries and local authorities determined to implement anti-IUU fishing measures to affirm Việt Nam as a ‘trust and responsibility’ partner.

A report from the ministry said 11 out of 28 provinces now monitor fishing boats more than 6m in length, while 28,739 out of 29,827 fishing vessels (96.35 per cent) have installed vessel monitoring systems (VMS).

The number of fishing boats on the National Fisheries Database (Vnfishbase) was identified at 74,521, down 14,024 boats since September 2022, and 86.7 per cent of fishing vessels are officially registered. — VNS