Border guards in Ly Son, Quang Nam province, inspect IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing. Photo: Thanh Thang/VOV-Central Vietnam

Control measures were taken strictly from the moment vessels departed. The port management board checked documents and the operational status of the VMS, while the border guard conducted a final inspection before the vessels set sail. At sea, fishing vessels have to maintain VMS connectivity 24/7 and any signal loss has been monitored, warned, and handled promptly.

Quang Ngai province has also applied electronic traceability (eCDT) for more than 3,000 fishing vessels, a high rate compared to the rest of the country, helping to control the process from fishing to consumption, meeting domestic regulations and international market requirements. 

Boats dock at Ly Son Island. Photo: Thanh Thang/VOV-Central Vietnam

"The Port Management Board operates 24/7, receiving and dispatching vessels, meticulously recording vessel movements, controlling catch volumes, and inspecting installed equipment. The Department of Agriculture and Environment requires all port management boards in the area to maintain 100% staffing before, during, and after Tet. The Provincial People's Committee directs the border guard force to conduct regular inspections at stations and in river channels, and strictly handle violations," said Nguyen Duc Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quang Ngai province.