Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Dispatch No. 916/CD-TTg dated October 4 on fighting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and to protect seafood resources, the Quang Binh Provincial People’s Committee issued a document dated October 5 asking local relevant agencies to take drastic measures to stop such fishing.

All fishing vessels that lose communications or are discovered venturing beyond the permitted fishing line will be warned and punished severely for any violations. Particular focus will be placed on vessels with a length of 24 meters or more.

According to functional agencies in the central province, 65 cases of violations have been fined this year, with penalties totaling VND784.5 million (over $32,000).

Local relevant agencies are also asked to be ready to work with the inspection team from the EC, which will visit Vietnam later this month to inspect the country’s efforts in fighting IUU fishing and consider removing its “yellow card” imposed in October 2017 on Vietnam’s seafood exports to the EU markets.