To contribute to the goal of removing the European Commission’s “yellow card” for seafood products exploited in our country, in recent times, the Coast Guard Region 2 Command has made efforts and overcome difficulties to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the assigned waters.

The Coast Guard Region 2 (CGR2) is tasked with law enforcement in the waters from Quang Tri to Binh Dinh, including Hoang Sa Archipelago and a northern part of the Truong Sa Archipelago. Currently, along with the assurance of security and sovereignty over seas and islands, order, and safety in the assigned waters, and the management of fishing activities and protection of seafood resources and marine ecosystems, it is urgent and crucial for the CGR2 to play a pivotal role in preventing and eliminating IUU fishing activities and promoting sustainable Vietnamese fishing practices. Particularly, given the geographical features and the traditional livelihood of coastal communities heavily reliant on fishing, with a substantial number of fishermen and fishing vessels operating in comparison to the rest of the country, combating IUU activities is of paramount importance. According to assessments by functional agencies, in recent years, the majority of fishermen have fully grasped and diligently adhered to Vietnamese and international laws pertaining to fishing activities. However, in practice, there still exists a small number of fishing vessels operated by the CGR2-managed fishermen within the jurisdiction of foreign waters, with some even using tricks to avoid patrol and control forces, which pose challenges to the management, investigation, verification, and enforcement efforts of functional agencies.

Therefore, to contribute to the efforts against IUU and implement the Government’s “180 days of action” aimed at removing the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning for our country’s seafood products by 2023, the Party Committee and High Command of CGR2 are enhancing their resolute leadership and direction in the execution of this important task. CGR2’ Party Committee and party committees at all levels have issued thematic resolutions to lead, thoroughly grasp, and seriously implement higher echelons’ directives, resolutions, plans, and instructions. These are concretised through monthly, quarterly, and annual leadership and direction measures that align with the characteristics and tasks of their respective units. CGR2’s High Command demands that leaders of agencies and units develop specific plans and execute them vigorously, meticulously, and effectively. A particular focus is placed on conducting effective education to instil a deep awareness of the tasks among officers and soldiers. This includes fostering strong political bravery and determination, especially among the forces directly carrying out tasks. Thoroughly grasping and implementing the motto of “Being active and proactive, widely propagating, closely coordinating, firmly grasping the situation, handling matters promptly, safely, effectively, and in compliance with the law, and maintaining stability in the bordering waters”. Emphasis is placed on improving the quality of information gathering and assessment, timely detection, investigation, and verification, as well as providing effective recommendations under regulations. Specific tasks and directives are issued to each vessel before they undertake their missions. Additionally, efforts are made to strictly maintain the on-duty system, enhance research and analysis capabilities to have a comprehensive understanding of the situation, tasks, policies, and measures to handle situations during patrols, inspections, and control activities, thus countering IUU fishing in the assigned waters. 

Conducting propagation about IUU fishing for fishermen

Along with declining seafood resources and increasing costs of each sea voyage, the limited legal awareness of fishermen is the main cause of IUU fishing. Being aware of this, CGR2 has intensified its efforts in propaganda and dissemination of legal regulations regarding IUU fishing to fishermen through various informative and diverse means. To ensure the regularity and effectiveness of this propaganda work, in addition to existing regulations and coordination programmes signed with local party committees and authorities. CGR2 has actively coordinated with the Propaganda Departments of provinces within its jurisdiction to develop and execute a coordinated plan for organising the propaganda conference to educate fishermen on not violating foreign waters when fishing. Furthermore, CGR2 has directed agencies and units to actively innovate the content, methods, and forms of propaganda, placing particular emphasis on educating vessel owners and crew members, especially those at high risk of non-compliance, about the legal regulations on exploitation and fishing and areas where fishing is allowed. Mobilising people engage in offshore economic development while also ensuring strict adherence to the law and active participation in safeguarding the national sovereignty over seas and islands. CGR2 has also integrated anti-IUU fishing content into the programme named “The Coast Guard accompanies fishermen” and the mass mobilisation content into “The Coast Guard with ethnic minorities and religious communities” programme to expand the reach of its messages to a wider audience. On an annual basis, CGR2 organises nearly 50 propaganda sessions, reaching thousands of officers, civilians, and fishermen within its jurisdiction. It distributes tens of thousands of pamphlets on law on Vietnam Coast Guard, IUU regulations, and related topics. During the recent peak period of IUU propaganda, CGR2 conducted four propaganda campaigns in the provinces and cities of Quang Tri, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh to donate 2,500 national flags and distribute 3,500 propaganda leaflets. Additionally, CGR2 chaired and coordinated with local authorities, departments, branches, and organisations to conduct field visits to assess the actual situation at sea, which facilitated more resolute and effective enforcement. Thanks to various innovative approaches and creative models, combined with the efforts and responsibilities of the Coast Guard personnel closely attached to grassroots communities, the awareness and responsibility of fishermen have been elevated, contributing to a shift towards sustainable fishing practices that balance resource exploitation with conservation efforts in the marine environment.

The information gathering and basic investigation work are consistently prioritised and well-executed by CGR2’s High Command. Various agencies and units implement comprehensive and resolute operational measures, enhancing surveillance and gathering intelligence on vessels violating IUU regulations. They carry out effective basic investigations, focusing on key areas, suspicious activities, high-risk entities, and individuals or organisations involved in brokering vessels to foreign waters. CGR2 takes proactive measures to establish close coordination and cooperation with other forces, including Coast Guard Region 1, 3, and 4; Reconnaissance Unit 1 and 2; Naval Region 3 and 4; local party committees and authorities; the Public Security; the Border Guard; Fisheries Departments, and fishing organisations, etc. This collaboration involves information exchange, joint inspection, and sharing of data to have a comprehensive grasp of vessels violating IUU regulations within the jurisdiction of each unit. This enables timely detection of vessels encroaching into foreign waters and the identification of intermediary networks facilitating illegal fishing. Through these efforts, CGR2 determines effective management and monitoring measures for activities of fishing vessels at sea, as well as other violations and criminal activities, ensuring that the authorities are not caught off guard and can respond swiftly and effectively. CGR2 regularly exploits information tracked by the national maritime tracking system about vessels showing signs of violations, such as crossing borders and disabling the VMS. This information is promptly updated for Coast Guard vessels engaged in patrol and control activities within the jurisdiction of their units, enabling them to conduct inspections, prevent violations, and enforce the law effectively. CGR2 maintains close coordination with relevant forces to strictly manage and monitor fishing vessels entering and departing from ports, not allowing vessels without or with non-functioning VMS equipment to leave port. Furthermore, CGR2 conducts thorough investigations and takes decisive actions against IUU activities, with a primary focus on actions related to the removal, sending, or disabling of VMS and the intermediation of vessels and fishermen to engage in illegal fishing in foreign waters.

In addition, CGR2 deploys a comprehensive set of specialised professional measures to gain a firm grasp of criminal activities, violations, and the situation of fishing vessels violating IUU regulations. This includes a thorough examination of the geographical area, establishment of intelligence infrastructure, and continuous updates to IUU basic investigation files in key areas. Furthermore, CGR2 strengthens its review process, making lists of vessels and crew members at “high risk” of IUU violations. It conducts statistical analysis of vessels engaged in offshore fishing activities, clarifying them based on engine capacity, length, operating regions, and traditional fishing grounds. Lists are created for vessels with or without VMS equipment and vessels that regularly lose communication at sea. Details of vessel owners and captains, the number of violating vessels arrested and handled, methods and tricks of violation, etc., are also noted down. Furthermore, CGR2 organises surveillance teams and technical reconnaissance teams as per regulations to collect information on sovereignty security, social order, and maritime safety within the assigned waters.

To execute its mission across vast waters with existing forces and means, CGR2 intensifies maritime patrol, inspection, control, and violation handling. It maintains the strict and effective operation of the Command Centre, reconnaissance duty, and patrolling vessels at sea. It also strengthens the patrol, inspection, and control forces, conducting regular and fixed patrols while staying agile and ready to protect our fishermen’s legal seafood fishing activities. Besides, CGR2 timely identifies, prevents, and intercepts violations against IUU regulations by foreign fishing vessels. Vigilant monitoring and close supervision are applied to fishing vessels operating in distant waters, bordering waters, and overlapping zones to proactive disseminate and deter illegal activities. Throughout mission execution, CGR2 mandates its units to strictly adhere to the guiding principles and policies at sea outlined in Instruction No. 5181/HD-BTL dated May 12, 2020, issued by the Coast Guard High Command regarding the enforcement of legal regulations, inspections, and penalties against fishing vessels violating IUU regulations and the handling of situations at sea. Additionally, CGR2 utilises the appropriate measures outlined in Section 6, Part III of Plan No. 11868/KH-TM dated August 25, 2021, of the Staff Department approved by the Commander of the Viet Nam Coast Guard. This approach discourages simplistic thinking, subjectivity, impulsive actions, and emotional responses that may exacerbate the situation. Regular coordination with functional forces, authorities, and the IUU Steering Committees in various localities for interagency maritime patrol is conducted. Comprehensive on-site struggle measures are implemented to prevent and deter the illegal migration of people and vessels to foreign waters for illegal fishing. Firm and well-judged penalties are imposed on fishing vessels engaged in illegal fishing in foreign waters to both deter future violations and effectively propagate compliance. In 2022 and the first six months of 2023, CGR2 organised and deployed nearly 50 patrols and inspections with vessels and boats that identified and handled thousands of foreign and domestic fishing vessels that were in breach of regulations.

Despite numerous difficulties and challenges, with unwavering determination, an absolute commitment to never be complacent or negligent, and a high level of vigilance, the officers and soldiers of CGR2 consistently take proactive and resolute action in combating illegal fishing in their assigned waters. They play a crucial role in the collective efforts of the entire country to achieve the goal of removing the European Commission’s “yellow card” placed on our seafood products.

Senior Colonel TRAN QUANG TUAN, Commander of Coast Guard Region 2