An Giang intensifies enforcement drive against illegal fishing

An Giang's provincial administration has ordered a significant escalation in efforts to combat IUU fishing, with senior officials tasking all relevant departments and law enforcement agencies to strengthen enforcement measures. Ho Van Mung, Chairman of the An Giang provincial People's Committee, has directed authorities to establish stricter discipline and clearly delineate responsibilities across agencies involved in monitoring fishing activities.

The directive emphasizes performance-based accountability, requiring agency and local leaders to demonstrate concrete results in suppressing illegal fishing operations. Officials are expected to implement more rigorous oversight of fishing fleets and territorial waters, with enforcement actions subject to heightened scrutiny.

The push in An Giang reflects a broader regional response to IUU fishing, which has emerged as a significant concern across the Mekong Delta and Southeast Asia. Other provinces, including Dak Lak and Tay Ninh, have launched similar initiatives involving public awareness campaigns and stricter management protocols for licensed fishing vessels.

Vietnam's efforts to combat IUU fishing align with national commitments to sustainable maritime practices and international agreements on fisheries management. The crackdown aims to protect local fishing communities, preserve marine ecosystems, and strengthen Vietnam's compliance with global standards that have previously resulted in trade restrictions on seafood exports.

Photo: An Thoi fishing harbour on Phu Quoc island, An Giang province, Vietnam, with Sunset Town in the background, April 2026. Vivu Vietnam via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).