Bac Lieu (VNA)🅺 — Bac Lieu province in the Mekong Delta has seen positive progress in its fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with no local vessels caught encroaching into foreign waters since 2024.

This achievement supports Vietnam’s national efforts to have the European Commission’s “yellow card” on seafood exports lifted. With more than 700 vessels, Ganh Hao town in Dong Hai district has the largest fishing fleet in Bac Lieu. Huynh Tan Khanh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Ganh Hao, noted that the town strictly follows anti-IUU fishing directives and has partnered with local agencies to organise six awareness campaigns attended by nearly 500 fishermen. Some 130 boat owners and captains have also signed commitments to follow legal requirements and avoid entering foreign waters. Captain Nguyen Duy Thanh, Deputy Chief of the Ganh Hao Border Guard Station, said border guards coordinate closely with local authorities to inspect all vessels at port. "Three Nos" vessels that lack proper registration, fishing licenses or inspection certifications are banned from setting sail. Dang Quoc Thuy, a vessel owner in Ganh Hao, praised these outreach sessions, noting that legal education, posters, and pamphlets have raised fishermen’s awareness and promoted responsible practices. In Bac Lieu city, the anti-IUU campaign has prompted stronger compliance among officials and fishermen. City authorities view IUU prevention as an urgent and long-term priority that affects local livelihoods, economic growth, and security. They collaborate with specialised agencies to monitor the fleet using a vessel monitoring system (VMS), ensuring that any violations, such as signal losses for over 10 days or disconnected devices for months, are detected and dealt with quickly. Bac Lieu now has 862 fishing vessels, of which 847 are officially registered, accounting for 96.87% of the fleet. All vessels 15 metres and longer are equipped with tracking devices as required. Pham Van Muoi, Deputy Director of Bac Lieu’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, affirmed that the province will step up public awareness efforts and punish violations to help secure the removal of the yellow card. The Fisheries Sub-Department is working closely with border posts and local authorities to identify and list any “three-no” vessels for stricter management and to prevent them from going to sea. Authorities also monitor vessel activity around the clock and alert owners if their devices lose signal or risk breaching maritime boundaries. Going forward, the department will continue working with border and police forces to conduct patrols and enforce anti-IUU measures with zero tolerance for violations./.