On the morning of January 15, in Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province, the Navy held a Conference to review the work of combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2024. Rear Admiral Nguyen Dinh Hung, Deputy Commander of the Navy, chaired the conference; also attending were representatives of agencies and units of the entire Navy and political commissars and captains of ships participating in the task of combating IUU fishing.

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Rear Admiral Nguyen Dinh Hung, Deputy Commander of the Navy, chaired the conference.

At the conference, Colonel Vu Dinh Hien, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy, approved the Report on the results of the work to combat IUU fishing in 2024 and deployed a number of tasks and solutions for 2025. He emphasized: In 2024, agencies and units thoroughly grasped and strictly implemented the resolutions and directives of superiors on combating IUU fishing, at the same time, deployed and completed assigned tasks well, promptly developed and adjusted plans, increased forces in the field during peak times. Units strictly maintained forces, means, organized patrols and inspections in bordering sea areas; grasped the situation, promptly advised, proposed, and effectively handled situations.

Agencies and units have conducted over 200 propaganda sessions for nearly 21,500 people in coastal areas, especially in the provinces of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Binh Thuan, Bac Lieu...; directly propagated to nearly 15,300 fishing boats, donated nearly 1,000 life jackets, over 3,000 national flags, supported over 200 m3 of fresh water, nearly 2 tons of rice, provided free medical examinations and medicine to over 4,200 people... The scope of propaganda was widely deployed on mass media, on land and all sea routes, including offshore and in bordering waters on the task of combating IUU fishing.

The entire Army regularly maintains 27 patrol boats in the sea areas, thereby administratively inspecting 1,280 fishing boats operating in the border waters; promptly preventing 278 fishing boats intending to cross the border to violate foreign waters; making records of 135 fishing boats violating regulations: not having enough documents, not having a seafood exploitation logbook... Timely closely monitoring the activities of fishing boats through the management and monitoring system of fishing boat journeys and activities in the sea areas (VMS), promptly directing targets for ships in the field to inspect and verify.

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The Vietnamese Navy is a support for fishermen to go out to sea and stick to the sea.

The units have coordinated with affiliated forces and localities to verify fishing vessel incidents, the identities of fishermen violating foreign waters and anti-IUU fishing activities; coordinated and called on 159 ships operating close to the maritime boundary with Malaysia and Indonesia to exploit Vietnamese waters...

Implementing the program "Vietnam Navy as a fulcrum for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea", the ships on duty against IUU fishing of the units in the Navy always promote their core role in preventing and fighting natural disasters, rescuing victims at sea and islands, participating in 110 search and rescue missions, rescuing 208 sick and injured fishermen and 19 fishing boats in distress at sea, contributing to the management and firm protection of the sovereignty of the sea, islands and sacred continental shelf of the Fatherland.

Speaking at the conference, Rear Admiral Nguyen Dinh Hung, Deputy Commander of the Navy, praised the results and achievements of the agencies and units in the Navy in carrying out the task of combating IUU fishing. In order to effectively carry out the task of combating IUU, moving towards ending the situation of fishing vessels violating foreign waters, and removing the "Yellow Card" warning of the European Commission (EC) as soon as possible, he requested: Agencies and units need to innovate the content, form, and methods of propaganda, raising awareness for fishermen not to violate foreign waters; strictly maintain the force operating at sea, closely coordinate with forces such as the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Fisheries Surveillance to organize patrols and strictly control the waters bordering other countries. Maintain the effective operation of joint command posts at all levels, closely monitor fishing vessels on VMS equipment; resolutely chase away foreign fishing vessels, do not let them create "black spots" and "traditional fishing" areas, and at the same time strengthen defense diplomacy and joint patrols... request that you provide information on incidents and hand over fishermen who violate the law to Vietnamese authorities for handling...

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