Khanh Hoa Tuna Fishermen Report Bumper Tet Catches, Tighter IUU Controls

Docks at Hon Ro and Dong Hai fishing ports were busy since early morning as Khanh Hoa's offshore tuna fleet returned from Lunar New Year voyages with holds full of fresh catches, capping what provincial authorities described as an encouraging start to the new fishing year.

The activity comes from a substantial fleet: Khanh Hoa has more than 600 offshore tuna vessels forming a value chain from harvesting to export, with annual output reaching tens of thousands of tonnes. The Tet-period returns reinforced fishermen's confidence to continue venturing offshore, with the steady flow of vessels heading out and coming back reflecting, in the words of provincial reporting, "the vibrant pace of coastal life in Khanh Hoa at the start of spring."

The good catches arrive alongside a harder regulatory push. Nguyen Trong Chanh, Deputy Director of the department, said the province has strictly implemented national directives on IUU fishing prevention, reviewing fleet management and ensuring full installation of monitoring equipment across the fleet. Mandatory vessel monitoring systems are now required on all boats 15 metres or longer, paired with strict catch verification and traceability checks.

Chanh outlined the key tasks ahead: enforcing vessel identification rules, synchronising fishing vessel data with national databases, and strictly handling non-compliant vessels. Authorities are also strengthening port inspections, offshore monitoring and electronic traceability systems while preventing illegal landings outside regulated ports.

The enforcement push is directly tied to an international compliance objective. Provincial measures are explicitly aimed at removing the European Commission's "yellow card" warning, which flags concerns about illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices. Fishermen continuing to work offshore while meeting the associated regulations is central to that effort.

With bumper Tet catches already logged and enforcement infrastructure being tightened across the fleet, Khanh Hoa is raising expectations for a productive fishing season in the year ahead.