On the afternoon of November 29, in Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province, the Command of Coast Guard Region 4 held a conference to share experiences in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2024.
The Coast Guard Region 4 Command has been assigned to preside over patrolling, inspecting, and controlling against IUU fishing in the sea areas bordering Vietnam - Thailand and Vietnam - Malaysia from July 2021 to present. This is a large sea area with a length of over 280 nautical miles, with a relatively high density of vessels operating; the weather is complicated. The functional forces of the countries regularly patrol, inspect, and control the border areas. Although the situation of IUU violations has decreased, there are still some violations.
From July 2021 to present, the Regional Command has coordinated with other units to organize and deploy 19 anti-IUU fishing campaigns with 142 ships and nearly 3,000 officers and soldiers participating. In 2024 alone, the functional forces of the Coast Guard Region 4 Command inspected, drew up administrative violation records, and issued decisions to sanction 505 cases/590 ships with a total fine of nearly 12 billion VND.
Hand over to the competent authorities of Kien Giang province to advise the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to issue a decision to administratively sanction 9 cases/20 ships/30 subjects with a fine of more than 11 billion VND, revoke 23 captain certificates, confiscate 2 fishing boats; prosecute and hand over 17 criminal cases of "Organizing and brokering illegal entry and exit for others" and "obstructing or disrupting the operation of computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic means" to competent authorities for handling.
The Regional Command has actively and proactively done a good job of propaganda, dissemination, legal education, raising awareness for fishermen, people, and vehicle owners about combating IUU fishing. Organized 7 mass mobilization programs "Coast Guard accompanies fishermen", 4 contests "I love the sea and islands of my homeland" at 47 secondary schools and 30 concentrated propaganda sessions in 22 communes, wards, and towns for more than 64,800 cadres, people, teachers, students, and fishermen. Distributed more than 15,000 leaflets and propaganda handbooks; mobilized 405 vehicle owners and captains to commit not to violate IUU fishing...
At the conference, delegates discussed and drew many experiences to better organize the implementation of the task of combating IUU fishing in the coming time such as: Regularly grasp and strictly implement directives, orders and plans from above; promote the role and responsibility of organizations, individuals and cadres at all levels; promote the combined strength of agencies and units; do a good job of training and fostering cadres and soldiers participating in the implementation of tasks; strengthen coordination with local Party committees and authorities...
Concluding the Conference, Colonel Tran Nguyen Lai, Deputy Commander - Chief of Staff of the Regional Command affirmed: In 2024, the Regional Command has thoroughly grasped and strictly implemented resolutions and directives from above, and directions from leaders at all levels.
The Deputy Commander - Chief of Staff requested agencies and units to continue to promote a sense of responsibility, strictly implement the signed Coordination Regulations, overcome difficulties, make more efforts and determination in organizing and implementing tasks in the coming time, contributing to removing the yellow card warning of the European Commission (EC) for the Vietnamese seafood industry.
