All "three nos" fishing vessels must be registered with local authorities in November this year, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha was quoted by the Government News as stating at a meeting with leaders of coastal provinces of Ca Mau, Tien Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu and Binh Dinh, held on October 17 under his chair to accelerate the anti-IUU fishing efforts.

The Deputy Prime Minister urged local police forces to coordinate with the local agriculture sector and communal-level authorities to identify "three nos" fishing vessels, request the owners of fishing vessels to register vessels with local authorities and update the registered vessels on fishing vessel database.

He also tasked the Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to coordinate with law enforcement forces to crack down on "three nos" vessels at sea.

The Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security and the MARD need to coordinate in integrating fishing vessel data into the national population database, the Deputy Prime Minister requested.

He also asked the MARD to put forward mechanisms and policies to assist the owners of fishing vessels to purchase and install vessel monitoring system (VMS) on fishing vessels, while tasking the ministry to adopt sanctions against those who intentionally switch off the VMS or uninstall the device and leave on other vessels.

The issue of "three nos" fishing vessels (unregistered, uninspected, and lacking a fishing license) is not only a challenge for Vietnam but also a concern for global efforts to control illegal fishing activities, according to the Directorate of Fisheries.

For fishermen, registering their boats not only ensures their safety during fishing operations but also provides them with access to state support policies, such as fishing boat insurance, assistance during maritime risks, or preferential credit programs to upgrade their vessels.

From a management perspective, having legally registered boats will help authorities better control fishing activities, prevent overfishing, and establish a solid foundation for the sustainable protection and development of aquatic resources. This is also an important basis for Vietnam to reaffirm its commitment to combating IUU fishing, thereby maintaining and expanding its seafood export markets, especially in the European Union.

The European Commission (EC) issued a "yellow card" warning against Vietnam's seafood exports in 2017. Since then, the value of Vietnam's seafood exports to the EU market has decreased by an average of 6-10% per year, according to the Government News.

Over the past seven years, the EC has conducted four inspection rounds on IUU fishing combat in Vietnam. During the inspection tours, the EC has acknowledged and highly appreciated the strong political determination and efforts of the Government of Vietnam and the Prime Minister, as well as Vietnam's specific actions in combating IUU fishing, it reported.