Lam Dong tightens enforcement against IUU fishing
Lam Dong Province is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with authorities rolling out stricter enforcement measures to address remaining shortcomings identified by the European Commission (EC) and support Vietnam's bid to have the EC's "yellow card" warning lifted.
Provincial officials recently reviewed progress in implementing anti-IUU measures, assessing remaining challenges and setting priorities for the coming months.
According to the Lam Dong Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing, the province considers tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing a key priority, contributing to national efforts to have the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" warning lifted and build a more sustainable and responsible fisheries sector.
Lam Dong has largely completed its assigned tasks in combating IUU fishing.
The province currently has 8,176 registered fishing vessels, all of which have been fully updated in the national fisheries database, achieving 100% coverage. In the first seven months of 2026, fishing ports recorded 22,446 vessel arrivals and 23,569 departures, with nearly 100% of records processed through the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT).
Despite the progress, 954 fishing vessels, or 11.65% of the provincial fleet, remain ineligible to operate, mainly due to expired inspections, fishing licences or food safety certificates.
Another 388 vessels remain under review because of incomplete information following sales or transfers within and outside the province, or because they have sunk, ceased operations or their owners are no longer present in the locality.
Only 25.3% of the province's total catch is currently monitored through fishing ports. Cases of vessels losing their Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) connection at sea or crossing permitted maritime boundaries also continue to occur.
At the meeting, several coastal localities reported difficulties in managing vessels that are not eligible to operate. In particular, some vessels have been sold or transferred outside their localities without completing the required ownership transfer and registration procedures, making it difficult to identify their current owners.
From now until September 30, 2026, the Lam Dong Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing has instructed provincial departments, agencies and local authorities to implement key measures in a coordinated manner to fully address shortcomings identified by the European Commission (EC). Priority will be given to preventing fishing vessels from illegally entering foreign waters and strengthening inspections and enforcement against IUU fishing violations.
Following discussions, Nguyen Van Chien urged agencies and local authorities to strengthen monitoring and supervision of vessels at risk of entering foreign waters illegally. Officials will be assigned to monitor high-risk vessels, detect potential violations early and prevent them from leaving shore.
Local authorities were also asked to closely manage the fishing fleet, particularly vessels that are not eligible to operate. These vessels should be classified according to the reasons for their ineligibility so that appropriate measures can be taken, while vessel records must be reviewed and updated. Vessels that fail to meet operating requirements will not be allowed to leave port.