The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has adopted various measures to inspect, monitor and control fishing activities in an attempt to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing among ship owners and fishermen.

Since early this year, Kien Giang authorities have inspected 1,132 fishing vessels and dished out 470 fines for using forbidden fishing tools, lacking registration, fishing in foreign seas and other violations. At waterfront border stations, local authorities have also intensified communication to raise local people’s awareness. Despite the fact 58 fishing vessels and 553 fishermen have been captured by foreign sea patrols, this number is still considered a huge improvement compared to 2017, implying a rise in local people’s awareness. Some communes has even recorded no IUU and foreign sea fishing violations.-VNA