Fishing vessels dock at Sông Đốc Fishing Port in Cà Mau Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Kiệt

CÀ MAU — Cà Mau Province is tightening controls on fishing activities, expanding digital monitoring and strengthening public awareness campaigns as it seeks to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and develop a sustainable fisheries sector.

With more than 310 kilometres of coastline, the southernmost province has one of the country’s largest marine economies. Fishing, seafood processing and exports play a key role in local economic growth.

However, the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood continues to pose major challenges for the province’s fishing industry.

In response, local authorities have introduced a range of measures to prevent IUU fishing, protect marine resources and meet international market requirements.

Fishing vessel management is being strengthened through digital platforms, including the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), electronic catch documentation and traceability systems, and the national fisheries database.

Border guard forces are conducting strict inspections before vessels leave port. Only vessels that meet legal requirements and have functioning VMS equipment are allowed to operate at sea.

Authorities have also enhanced information sharing among agencies to quickly detect and handle violations.

Alongside enforcement measures, the province has intensified legal awareness campaigns among fishermen.

In late May and early June, an inter-agency delegation comprising the Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture and Environment and Border Guard Command launched a communication campaign under the slogan “reaching every home and every port”.

At Sông Đốc Fishing Port in Sông Đốc Commune, the province’s largest fishing port, officials visited fishing vessels directly to meet boat owners, captains and crew members and provide guidance on IUU regulations.

Mạc Văn Căn, a fisherman in Sông Đốc Commune, said he has attended many awareness programmes on IUU fishing in the past years, but they were mostly organised through conferences.

“Having officials come directly to fishing vessels to meet and discuss these issues with fishermen is something very new,” he said.

According to Căn, face-to-face discussions help fishermen better understand regulations on legal fishing activities.

An official from the Cà Mau Department of Justice distributes leaflets on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to seafood traders and fishermen at Sông Đốc Fishing Port in Cà Mau Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Kiệt

Đỗ Hồng Quang, head of the Legal Dissemination and Education Division under the Department of Justice, said: “The ‘reaching every home and every port’ approach may not be new, but it has proven highly effective in raising awareness about IUU fishing among fishermen.”

The province is also accelerating digital transformation in fisheries management.

It has more than 5,100 registered fishing vessels, while all 1,914 vessels measuring 15 metres or longer have installed VMS equipment.

Authorities are also expanding the use of electronic catch documentation and electronic fishing logbooks to improve traceability and transparency.

Nguyễn Hoàng Xuân, deputy head of the province Fisheries Sub-department, said: “Strict compliance with regulations not only helps fishermen avoid legal violations but also contributes to building a modern, transparent and responsible fisheries sector that meets international market requirements.”

The province is investing in marine resource conservation and supporting sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities.

It is developing a 27,000ha provincial-level species and habitat conservation area surrounding the island clusters of Hòn Khoai, Hòn Chuối and Hòn Đá Bạc.

Huỳnh Văn Kiệt, a member of a co-management group in Hòn Đá Bạc, said the conservation area and artificial reefs have helped attract increasing numbers of fish, shrimp and other marine species in recent years.

“We are also working hard to protect it and discourage people from entering the area to fish,” he said. — VNS