The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has announced a plan to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing within a period of 180 days, before the fourth visit to Vietnam by European Commission (EC) inspectors.

The plan follows the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 81/QD-TTg signed on February 13.

Under the ministry’s plan, all fishing vessels must install monitoring systems by May, which will operate around the clock from when vessels leave port until they return.

All IUU fishing must cease and fishing vessels in violation will be strictly punished and their names publicized.

Local authorities are required to increase information provision to raise awareness among fishermen, check the registration of all fishing vessels in their area, and grant operational licenses to those meeting regulations.