Violations in the field of fisheries exploitation will be fined up to 1 billion VND.

Some regulations on administrative sanctions for violations in the field of fisheries, effective from July 5, 2019. Photo: PV

Article 20:Serious violations in fisheries exploitation

1. Fine from 300 to 500millionPenalties for fishing vessel owners who commit one of the following violations:

a) Using a fishing vessel with a maximum length of 15 meters to less than 24 meters without a Fishing License or an expired Fishing License to fish in Vietnamese waters;

b) Using fishing vessels with a length of 24 meters or more to transport aquatic products from fishing vessels without a fishing license, with an expired license, or to support exploration, search, lure, and transport of aquatic products for vessels identified as having engaged in illegal fishing, except in cases of force majeure;

c) Not equipping a voyage monitoring device on a fishing vessel with a maximum length of 15 meters to less than 24 meters as prescribed;

d) Failure to maintain operation or disable voyage monitoring equipment during operations at sea for fishing vessels with a length of 24 meters or more, except in cases of force majeure;

d) Not recording fishing logs and purchasing and transporting fishery products logs for fishing vessels with a maximum length of 24 meters or more;

e) Providing voyage monitoring equipment to fishermen that does not meet technical requirements as prescribed.

2. Fine from 500 to 700millionPenalties for fishing vessel owners who commit one of the following violations:

a) Using a fishing vessel with a maximum length of 15 meters to less than 24 meters to exploit aquatic resources in Vietnamese waters without a Fisheries Exploitation License or an expired Fisheries Exploitation License in case of recidivism or multiple violations;

b) Using fishing vessels with a length of 24 meters or more to transport aquatic products from fishing vessels without a Fisheries Exploitation License, with an expired license, or supporting exploration, search, lure, and transport of aquatic products for vessels identified as having engaged in illegal fishing in case of recidivism or multiple violations, except in cases of force majeure;

c) Not equipping a voyage monitoring device on a fishing vessel with a maximum length of 15 meters to less than 24 meters as prescribed in case of recidivism or multiple violations;

d) Failure to maintain operation or disable voyage monitoring equipment during operations at sea for fishing vessels with a length of 24 meters or more in case of recidivism or multiple violations, except in cases of force majeure;

d) Failure to record fishing logs and fishery purchase and transport logs for vessels with a maximum length of 24 meters or more in case of recidivism or multiple violations;

e) Concealing, falsifying or destroying evidence of violations of regulations on exploitation and protection of aquatic resources;

g) Failure to keep a fishing log or to keep an inaccurate log in accordance with the requirements of the Regional Fisheries Organization or to make a serious misreport in accordance with the regulations of the Regional Fisheries Organization when fishing activities are carried out in the sea area under the management of the Regional Fisheries Organization;

h) Exploiting aquatic resources beyond the limit licensed by the Regional Fisheries Organization.

3. Fine from 800 to 1billionPenalties for fishing vessel owners who commit one of the following violations:

Fishing boats of Cua Hoi (Nghe An) are docking to prepare logistics for the next trip. Photo: Nam Phuc

a) Using a fishing vessel with a length of 24 meters or more without a Fishing License or an expired Fishing License to fish in Vietnamese waters;

b) Fishing in the waters of another country, territory or waters under the management of a Regional Fisheries Organization without a license or with an expired license or without an approval or with an expired approval;

c) Foreign fishing vessels operating in Vietnamese waters without a license or with an expired license;

d) Using stateless fishing vessels or vessels with the nationality of a non-member country to illegally exploit aquatic resources in waters under the management authority of the Regional Fisheries Organization;

d) Using fishing vessels to exploit aquatic resources not in accordance with regulations on exploitation and protection of aquatic resources in international waters not under the management authority of the Regional Fisheries Organization;

e) Using fishing vessels in violation of regulations on management and conservation in international waters under the management authority of regional fisheries organizations of which Vietnam is a member;

g) Not equipping a voyage monitoring device on a fishing vessel with a maximum length of 24 meters or more as prescribed;

h) Concealing, falsifying or destroying evidence of violations of regulations on exploitation and protection of aquatic resources in case of recidivism;

i) Overexploitation of aquatic resources licensed by the Regional Fisheries Organization in case of repeat offense.

Article 21:Violation of regulations on fishing areas

1. A fine of 5 to 10 million VND shall be imposed on the act of using a fishing vessel with a maximum length of less than 12 meters to illegally exploit aquatic resources in coastal waters of other provinces.

2. A fine of 10 to 15 million VND shall be imposed on the act of using a fishing vessel with a maximum length of less than 12 meters to exploit aquatic resources in offshore or coastal areas.

3. A fine of 15 to 20 million VND shall be imposed on the act of using a fishing vessel with a maximum length of 12 meters to less than 15 meters to exploit aquatic products in coastal or offshore areas.

4. A fine of 20 to 30 million VND shall be imposed on the act of using a fishing vessel with a maximum length of 15 meters to less than 24 meters to exploit aquatic products in coastal and offshore areas.

5. A fine of 30 to 40 million VND shall be imposed on the act of using a fishing vessel with a length of 24 meters or more to exploit aquatic resources in coastal or offshore areas.

6. For the act of using fishing vessels for trawling, fishing gear and light-based fishing (except for squid hand-line fishing) to exploit aquatic products in coastal waters specified in Clauses 3, 4 and 5 of this Article, the fine shall be twice the fine specified in Clauses 3, 4 and 5 of this Article.