4 Vietnamese fishing captains fined over $34,000 for IUU violations

The sanctioned captains are Le Van Pho, Bui Vinh Quang, Mai Van, and Pham Van Tuan, all from Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition to a total fine of nearly VND900 million (around $34,080), authorities confiscated 4,600 liters of diesel oil from the four vessels, Colonel Trinh Thanh Binh, commander of the provincial Border Guard Command, said on Saturday.

The captains were penalized for multiple offenses, including disabling vessel monitoring systems, operating without valid captain and chief engineer certificates, refusing inspections by authorities, and transporting oil without proof of legal origin.

Earlier, Quang Tri border guards, in coordination with Squadron 38 of the Vietnam Border Guard, detected the vessels at sea committing such violations and escorted them ashore for handling.

The case underscores Vietnam's determination to curb IUU fishing and seek the lifting of the European Commission's IUU fishing 'yellow card' warning on its seafood exports, in effect since 2017.

Since then, the EC has carried out four inspections in Vietnam but has yet to remove the warning, citing shortcomings in enforcement in some coastal localities.

The next inspection is expected to take place in October.

In a related development, four fishing boat captains in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam were recently fined more than $32,800 and had their certificates suspended for nine months for serious IUU violations, the provincial Border Guard Command reported on Thursday.

On September 23, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 14th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Anti-IUU Fishing Prevention and Control, which was connected online with 21 coastal provinces and cities.

After reviewing the progress, he urged agencies and local authorities to take stronger and more decisive actions against IUU violations, with the firm goal of having the yellow card lifted within this year.