In the present time, one important task of the entire political system in general and the Vietnam Coast Guard, in particular is to overcome and resolve the European Commission's recommendations on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Implementing this task, Coast Guard Region 1 has deployed a number of solutions synchronously to improve operational efficiency in the waters under its authority, contributing to removing "yellow card" for our country's seafood.

Coast Guard Region 1 (CGR1) is responsible for enforcing law and managing the Northeastern sea of the country, with a coastline of over 700km, stretching through 9 coastal provinces and cities from the mouth of the Bac Luan River  of Quang Ninh province to Con Co island of Quang Tri province, covering the entire Gulf of Tonkin. This sea has been delimited the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf between Vietnam and China since 30 June 2004.

Coast Guard Region 1 disseminate regulations against IUU fishing for fishermen of Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province

Firmly grasping its functions, tasks, the characteristics of the area and the situation of maritime security, especially IUU fishing activities, recently the CGR1’s Party Committee and Command have led and directed its agencies and units to synchronously implement solutions to improve the efficiency of task performance, in which, preventing and combating IUU fishing is one of the key tasks. As a result, management has been tightened, the activities of fishing vessels at sea are closely monitored, controlled and supervised; fishermen’s awareness of law observance has been significantly improved; the number of fishing vessels violating foreign waters has also been decreased remarkably, contributing to maintaining security and safety in the waters it manages.

In order to further improve the effectiveness of fighting and preventing IUU fishing, contributing to removing the "yellow card" of the European Commission (EC), in the time to come, CGR1 will focus on the following measures:

Firstly, strengthen the leadership and management of party committees and commanders at all levels for the task of preventing and combating IUU fishing. The CGR1’s Party Committee and Command continue to direct its subordinates to grasp and effectively implement resolutions and directives of the Government, Prime Minister, ministries and branches, focusing on Official Dispatch No. 1058/CD- TTg, dated 04 November 2023 of the Prime Minister, Directive No. 102/CT-BQP, dated 13 December 2023 of the Ministry of National Defence and Plan No. 14359/KH-BCD, dated 21 December 2023 of IUU Fishing Prevention Steering Committee of the Coast Guard Command; focus on implementing urgent tasks and solutions, especially combating IUU fishing, and removing UE’s "yellow card". To fulfill that requirement, party committees and organisations at all levels should proactively develop thematic resolutions to lead the implementation of the task of preventing and combating IUU fishing and concretise them with action plans, documents, and directives relevant to the characteristics and security situation of each water and the tasks of each agency and unit. In the immediate future, the Region will focus on implementing the peak campaign against IUU fishing, preventing Vietnamese fishing vessels from violating foreign waters for illegal fishing, and removing the EU’s "yellow card" in the early months of 2024 as a basis for later course of action in the next phase; strengthen inspection, supervision, command and direction of party committees and commanders at all levels during the implementation process, contributing to improving the effectiveness of this work.

Providing leaflets for local people of Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province

Second, improve the effectiveness of propaganda and mass mobilisation to make them strictly comply with the law on fisheries exploitation; sanctions against IUU fishing violations. In particular, it is necessary to focus on innovating the content, form, and methods of propaganda and mass mobilisation. In order to make the propaganda effective, it is necessary to promote this activity in schools, with rich, creative, easy-to-understand and memorable forms. At the same time, deploy groups and teams to conduct direct propaganda on fishing vessels anchored at local locks and fishing ports. The Coast Guard and Fisheries Surveillance ships performing patrol, inspection, and control tasks should also conduct propaganda for fishing vessels and fishermen operating at sea as well.

Third, implement synchronous measures to fight and prevent IUU fishing activities. Agencies and units of the Region continue to synchronously and drastically deploy professional measures, strengthen reconnaissance to grasp information and actions of fishing vessels violating regulations on IUU fishing; make basic investigation, focusing on key areas, subjects who are at high risk of violations, and brokers who introduce domestic ships to foreign waters to conduct illegal fishing, etc., as a basis for advising, proposing and implementing preventive and combat measures. Maintain and promote the effectiveness of the watching teams to firmly grasp the actual situation of the seas, and provide information on all aspects, especially information on fishing vessels showing signs of violation for Coast Guard ships to inspect, prevent and handle. During the peak time from  01 January to 30 April 2024, the Region will deploy more Coast Guard ships to conduct patrol, inspection and control on field,  preventing and handling violations in a resolute, serious and  prompt manner according to their authority or transfer the records to the People's Committees of localities where fishing vessels are registered for handling.

Fourth, promote international cooperation to improve the effectiveness of the fight against IUU fishing. To continue to effectively deploy and implement international cooperation in fighting and preventing IUU fishing, the Region conduct joint patrols in the waters surrounding the demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin between the Vietnam Coast Guard and its China’s counterpart to check the compliance with regulations on anti-IUU fishing of fishing vessels of both countries. At the same time, it promotes the level-2 communication line between the Command of Coast Guard Region 1 and the South China Sea Branch of the China Coast Guard. Every month, on a regular or sudden basis, the two sides will notify each other of the violating fishing vessels to strengthen management and handling according to legal regulations. On that basis, it will notify localities about the fishing vessels illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters for quick  and easy verification and handling.

Fifth, closely coordinate with relevant forces, especially the Navy, the Border Guard, the Fisheries Surveillance, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of coastal provinces to promptly exchange information, prevent, detect, investigate, and thoroughly handle cases of IUU fishing violations. Coordinate to manage and closely monitor fishing vessels arriving and departing the wharf; resolutely not permit fishing vessels that do not install or maintain regular operation of cruise monitoring equipment to depart. Regularly coordinate with relevant forces and authorities to strengthen inspection of fishing vessels operating in the area; pay attention to fishing vessels that do not return to the locality after a long time, fishing vessels that engage in IUU fishing, and fishing vessels that commit serious violations and promptly inform localities for coordination in handling, aiming to minimise and completely stop the situation of IUU fishing, contributing to building the Northeast sea in particular and the entire East Sea in general into a sea of peace, stability, security, safety, cooperation and sustainable development.

Major General TRAN VAN THO, CGR1’s Commander