Fishing boats dock offshore An Biên beach in An Giang Province. VNA/VNS Photo

AN GIANG – Following the European Commission (EC)'s fifth inspection on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, southern An Giang province is accelerating a series of urgent and coordinated measures to address gaps, comply with EC recommendations and support national efforts to remove the IUU “yellow card”.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Ngô Công Thức has urged local authorities to step up patrols and inspections, especially in border waters, estuaries and coastal areas, to crack down on “three-no” vessels, those without registration, licences or monitoring systems, and prevent incursions into foreign waters.

The province is tightening maritime governance, with a focus on May–June 2026 to finalise a more robust legal framework and close loopholes for illegal fishing. Local agencies have been directed to ensure full vessel registration, marking and licensing, while strictly managing and barring non-compliant boats from operating. A plan to support affected fishermen in changing livelihoods will also be issued, he said.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment is working with other agencies to complete vessel registration and licensing, alongside timely installation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS). At the same time, police are strengthening oversight by linking vessel and crew data with the national resident database, thus  improving traceability and detection of irregularities.

Border guard forces have intensified control over vessels at ports and coastal entry points, particularly those between 12m and under 15m in length and those deemed high-risk. All vessel movements are now closely monitored, with data synchronised across levels via the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT), Thức noted.

Meanwhile, he added, the Department of Tourism is coordinating with diplomatic agencies to gather full information on vessels detained abroad, ensuring proper legal documentation in line with EC requirements.

The An Giang steering committee for anti-IUU fishing reported that all eligible vessels have been licensed while those unfit for operation are under strict supervision or removed from registries. Monitoring systems are also being strengthened, with nearly all eCDT accounts active and 100% of seafood origin certificates processed digitally, enhancing transparency and traceability across the sector. VNA/VNS