Ca Mau Promotes Sustainable Fisheries to Combat IUU Fishing

Ca Mau Province, located at the southern tip of Vietnam, is intensifying its efforts to eradicate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing following a 'yellow card' warning from the European Union (EU). The province prioritizes the promotion of sustainable fisheries and focuses on implementing digital management tools and providing training for fishermen to achieve this goal. New regulations strongly emphasize the use of digital management tools, including the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), the electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability system (eCDT), and the national fisheries database. These systems are designed to ensure the traceability of catches and facilitate the collection of information that could serve as evidence against illegal fishing. Furthermore, Ca Mau Province is conducting focused training for fishermen covering updates on inspection findings from the European Commission, dissemination of new regulations, and the implementation of the electronic catch documentation and traceability system. The aim is to ensure all stakeholders understand the regulations and can effectively utilize the systems. Significant progress has been made in document management. Ca Mau has successfully traced all 218 vessels whose registrations have been revoked since 2020 and has achieved 100% digitalization of records for vessels with expired fishing licenses. This marks a substantial improvement in the transparency and efficiency of fisheries management. These initiatives by Ca Mau Province demonstrate the Vietnamese government's serious commitment to addressing the IUU fishing issue. Vietnam is earnestly considering the EU's recommendations and is accelerating its transition to sustainable fishing practices that align with international standards. This is an essential step for maintaining the competitiveness of Vietnamese fishery products in the international market and for sustainably utilizing fishery resources. Under Vietnam's one-party system, the government prioritizes economic growth and cooperation with the international community as national strategies. Addressing IUU fishing is not only about economic benefits but also has diplomatic implications for gaining international trust. Especially for Vietnam, which has a complex relationship with China, maintaining good relations with Western countries, including the EU, is economically and strategically important. The current efforts in Ca Mau Province can be seen as part of this broader strategy.