Dong Thap: Enhancing Coordination to Protect Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
(DTO) On the afternoon of March 16, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security to organize a conference to review and launch coordination efforts between the two ministries. The conference was held both in-person and via video link to provinces and centrally-run cities.
Attending and chairing the conference at the MAE broadcasting point were Mr. Tran Duc Thang, member of the Politburo and Minister of MAE; Mr. Trinh Viet Hung, member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Minister of MAE; and Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security.
At the Dong Thap Province venue, the conference was attended and co-chaired by Major General Lam Phuoc Nguyen, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Director of the Provincial Police, and Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dieu, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee.
The conference aimed to review the implementation of Plan No. 628/KH-BCA-BNN&MT dated October 17, 2025, jointly issued by the Ministry of Public Security and the MARD to coordinate communication, law enforcement and handling of violations in order to prevent illegal activities related to wildlife protection and the conservation of fisheries resources in Vietnam.
At the event, representatives of the Ministry of Public Security reported on the outcomes of implementing Plan 628 over the past period. Thanks to the close direction of the two ministries, coordination among local authorities and strong public support, efforts to protect wildlife and fisheries resources have achieved positive results.
A system of directives from the central to local levels has been issued in a timely manner. So far, 32 out of 34 localities have established steering committees and developed implementation plans. Functional forces have also reviewed and identified numerous hotspots, high-risk individuals and areas prone to violations, while intensifying communication campaigns, patrols, inspections and enforcement measures.
Through inspections, functional forces detected and handled 1,784 violations related to the protection of wildlife and fisheries resources. This included 579 cases in the North, 706 in the Central region, and 499 in the South and Central Highlands.
Several localities were highlighted for their effective implementation of the plan, including Nghe An, Quang Ninh, Ca Mau, Hai Phong, Tuyen Quang, and Cao Bang.
In the coming period, ministries, sectors, and localities will continue to strengthen inter-disciplinary coordination, refine legal frameworks, and intensify communications and inspections to strictly handle illegal hunting, wildlife trafficking, and the destructive exploitation of fisheries resources.
In Dong Thap Province, in implementing Plan 628 issued by the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, the provincial police have introduced a number of preventive and enforcement measures against violations related to the exploitation and protection of aquatic resources. The police force coordinated with relevant sectors and localities to organize 24 communication sessions with 1,644 participants, while conducting patrols and inspections along river routes, reminding fishermen and asking them to commit to not using prohibited fishing gear or electric shocks in fishing activities.
In the coming period, Dong Thap Provincial Police will continue strengthening coordinated patrols and inspections, promoting legal awareness campaigns and strictly handling illegal fishing activities, thereby contributing to the protection and sustainable development of fisheries resources in the province.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Tran Duc Thang, Politburo member and Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, praised the close coordination among ministries, sectors and localities, particularly the proactive role of the police force and relevant agencies in implementing Plan 628 on wildlife and fisheries resources protection.
According to the Minister, leadership and implementation efforts have been carried out in a synchronized manner from the central to local levels, while communication activities have been strengthened, spreading the message against hunting, trading and consuming wildlife. However, implementation remains uneven in some localities, and illegal wildlife trading—especially on online platforms—continues to develop in complex ways.
In the coming period, The Minister called for stronger coordination among police, forest rangers, fisheries surveillance forces and relevant agencies; intensified communication campaigns; increased inspections and control in key areas; and strict handling of violations.
At the same time, he emphasized the need to enhance coordination in monitoring compliance with environmental protection laws and to promote the application of science, technology and digital transformation in environmental monitoring, contributing to the protection of natural resources and sustainable development.
By H. THONG
Translated by X.QUANG
