(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
According to the Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Environment, as of January 23, the province had a total of 8,208 registered fishing vessels. Of these, 7,189 vessels had been granted fishing licenses, accounting for 87.58%. Functional agencies have strengthened the management, inspection, and supervision of fishing activities to ensure compliance with legal regulations.
Alongside licensing, the monitoring and control of vessels entering and leaving ports and landing sites has been carried out continuously and effectively, with close coordination among relevant forces. From November 1, 2025 to January 23, 2026, Border Guard checkpoints inspected 3,674 vessel movements entering and leaving ports, including 3,045 port entry and exit records officially certified. This strict control has helped promptly prevent vessels from failing to meet operating conditions.
For vessels that have expired licenses or do not meet conditions for fishing activities, relevant authorities have fully informed and provided detailed guidance to each commune and ward to organize strict supervision and control, resolutely preventing vessels from operating illegally. In addition, inspection and handling efforts have been conducted rigorously to create a deterrent effect, serving the goal of sourcing legally compliant seafood products.
In enforcing laws and handling violations related to IUU fishing, Lam Dong province has focused on reviewing and strictly dealing with cases of vessels losing connection to vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and crossing maritime boundaries. From November 1, 2024 to January 23, 2026, the province detected violations in 789 out of 7,789 inspected cases, achieving a 100% detection rate for violations. Of these, 654 cases were subject to administrative penalties (accounting for 82.89%), while 135 cases were closed without penalties in accordance with regulations. Notably, since the beginning of 2026, no cases of vessels losing VMS connection while operating at sea have been recorded in the province.
In parallel with inspection and enforcement, communication and dissemination of laws on combating IUU fishing have been intensified. Hundreds of meetings, training sessions, and dialogues have been organized with the participation of thousands of vessel owners and fishermen. To date, more than 14,000 fishing vessels have signed commitments to strictly comply with fisheries laws. In particular, the province has organized focused dialogues on handling IUU violations, contributing to raising awareness and improving fishermen’s compliance with legal regulations in fishing activities.
To further implement synchronized and effective solutions against IUU fishing in the coming period, the People’s Committee of Lam Dong province has requested the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Police, the Border Guard Command, People’s Committees of communes, wards, Phu Quy Special Economic Zone, and relevant units to strengthen management and supervision of vessels with a high risk of violations, resolutely preventing fishing vessels and fishermen from violating foreign waters. Special attention will be paid to vessels longer than 15 meters that are not required to install vessel monitoring systems and that frequently operate and land catches outside the province.