Nghe An launches a high-intensity campaign to raise awareness, verify, and handle cases of fishing vessels losing VMS connectivity.
Following the Government's directive to launch a concentrated campaign to implement urgent measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, from November 8th to 10th, a working group from the Department of Agriculture and Environment worked with coastal communes to verify and handle fishing vessels that had lost connection with their VMS (Vehicle Monitoring System) tracking devices.
The delegation also included leaders from the Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection Sub-Department and representatives from the Provincial Border Guard Command.
Following the plan of the Provincial People's Committee, the delegation successively worked with key fishing localities including Tan Mai, Quynh Mai, Quynh Phu, Dien Chau, Hai Loc and Cua Lo.
Here, data on VMS disconnection issues on fishing vessels in various localities will be extracted to request government support in raising awareness and strengthening case files for handling violations.
In addition, the working group and border guard posts also emphasized the intensified campaign to strengthen patrols and thoroughly handle violations without exception, ensuring that 100% of fishing vessels without proper documentation will not be allowed to leave port. Therefore, it is requested that the local authorities especially promote awareness among fishermen to strictly comply with regulations on installing and maintaining the connection of VMS (Vehicle Monitoring System) devices; and to avoid violating foreign waters, contributing to the province's effective implementation of solutions to remove the IUU yellow card, aiming towards building a responsible and sustainable fisheries industry.
According to information from the Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection Department of Nghe An province, 1,034 out of 1,036 vessels over 15m in length have installed VMS (2 vessels are docked and not fishing, so their VMS has not been activated). From the beginning of the year to October 31, 2025, the province still had 381 instances of vessels losing VMS connection for more than 6 hours, including 143 vessels over 24m and 238 vessels between 15m and under 24m.
Of the 1,269 fishing vessels that lost contact between January 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025, authorities have processed 766 vessels, including fining 242 vessels a total of 7.44 billion VND, and closing cases for 524 vessels. Currently, authorities are verifying and processing 503 vessels and will resolutely take action against any vessels that have recently lost contact.
Mr. Mai Hong Phong, Head of the Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection Department of Nghe An province, said: Nghe An is making efforts and is determined to create files to monitor and handle all cases of fishing vessels losing VMS connection for more than 6 hours. Through the process of creating verification files, except for cases where the VMS equipment loses connection due to objective errors, which will be documented and relevant parties requested to check and close the file, the remaining cases will have their grounds strengthened for penalties. The aim is to create a clear change and results in this field. If the act of losing VMS signal and connection is strictly monitored and handled, it will help manage fishing vessels that violate foreign waters.
