Nghe An launches a campaign to propagate, verify, and handle fishing boats that have lost VMS connection
Implementing the Government's direction on launching a peak period focusing on implementing urgent solutions to combat illegal fishing (IUU), from November 8 to 10, the working group of the Department of Agriculture and Environment worked with coastal communes to verify and handle fishing vessels that lost connection to the VMS journey monitoring device.
Also joining the working delegation were leaders of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, and representatives of the Provincial Border Guard Command.
Implementing the plan of the Provincial People's Committee, the delegation worked with key fishing localities including Tan Mai, Quynh Mai, Quynh Phu, Dien Chau, Hai Loc and Cua Lo.
Here, through extracting data on VMS disconnection status on fishing vessels in localities, we propose that the government support propaganda and strengthen the handling records.
In addition, the working group and the Border Guard stations also thoroughly implemented the peak campaign to strengthen patrols and handle thoroughly, without exception, ensuring that 100% of fishing vessels without sufficient documents will not leave port. Therefore, it is recommended that the authorities of the communes especially propagate so that fishermen strictly comply with the regulations on installing and maintaining the connection of VMS journey monitoring equipment; not violating foreign waters, contributing to the entire province to effectively implement solutions to remove the IUU yellow card, towards building a responsible and sustainable fishing industry.
According to information from the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, Nghe An has 1,034/1,036 vessels over 15m in length that have installed VMS (2 vessels are on shore, not fishing so VMS has not been activated). From the beginning of the year to October 31, 2025, the whole province has 381 vessels that lost VMS connection for more than 6 hours, of which 143 were vessels over 24m and 238 were vessels from 15m to under 24m.
Of the 1,269 fishing vessels that lost connection signals from January 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025, the authorities have filed cases against 766 vessels, of which 242 vessels were fined VND 7.44 billion, and 524 vessels were closed. Currently, the authorities are verifying and handling 503 vessels and will resolutely handle new vessels that have lost signals.
Mr. Mai Hong Phong - Head of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance of Nghe An province said: Nghe An is making efforts and determined to establish a record to monitor and handle all cases of fishing vessels losing connection to VMS for more than 6 hours. Through the verification record, except for cases where the VMS device lost connection due to objective errors, a record will be made, and at the same time, relevant parties will be asked to check to close the record, the rest will be consolidated as a basis for punishment. The purpose is to create changes and clear results in this field. If we monitor and strictly handle the behavior of losing signal and losing connection to VMS, we will be able to manage fishing vessels that violate foreign waters.
