In 2 days from May 9 - May 10, 2026, at Tay Yen Commune People's Committee and Phu Quoc Special Zone People's Committee, Coast Guard Region 4 Command coordinated with relevant units to organize propaganda and dissemination of laws on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing through the form of "simulated trial".
The activity attracted a large number of fishermen and local people in Tay Yen commune, Phu Quoc special zone to attend. The mock trial was built from a real case related to the act of bringing fishing boats and fishermen to foreign waters to illegally exploit seafood, and intentionally disconnecting the journey monitoring device to deceive functional agencies.
According to the indictment, the defendants organized for many fishermen to participate in illegal seafood exploitation outside Vietnamese waters to illegally profit. During the operation, the subjects repeatedly interrupted the signal of navigation monitoring devices, changed the identification of fishing boats to avoid being detected. After that, the fishing boats were arrested by foreign functional forces while illegally fishing.
Through the simulated trial proceedings, the Trial Panel clearly analyzed the legal consequences of the violation, the negative impacts on Vietnam's efforts to combat IUU fishing, as well as the impact on the image and prestige of fishermen in the international arena.
In a lively and visually staged form, the program helps people easily access legal regulations related to seafood exploitation at sea, especially regulations on combating IUU fishing, entry and exit and the use of vessel monitoring devices (VMS) on fishing vessels.
Speaking at the program, Major General Nguyen Van Dung, Political Commissar of Coast Guard Region 4 Command, said: The organization of the mock trial not only contributes to raising legal awareness for fishermen but also enhances awareness of complying with regulations when operating at sea, not violating foreign waters, contributing to the whole country to soon remove the "yellow card" warning of the European Commission (EC) for Vietnam's seafood industry.
In addition, the Coast Guard Region 4 Command and representatives of functional agencies organized seminars and direct legal exchanges with fishermen and ship owners to answer practical problems related to, helping people easily access legal regulations related to seafood exploitation at sea, and raise awareness of law compliance when going offshore and sticking to the sea.
On this occasion, the Coast Guard Region 4 Command and the Military Court of Military Region 9 presented 40 gifts to policy families, families of fishermen in difficult circumstances and 40 gifts to vehicle owners and captains of fishing boats in the area.
