Kieng Phuoc Border Guard: Promoting Digital Transformation Awareness in the Fight Against IUU Fishing

(DTO) On August 4, Kieng Phuoc Border Guard (under the Border Guard Command of Dong Thap Province) collaborated with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Thuan Commune, the local Youth Union, the commune Police Department, and student volunteers from Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance and Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment to carry out an awareness outreach to disseminate legal regulations on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to local fishers. 

The highlight of the event was the introduction of the “Digital Fishers’ Handbook” model, which integrates essential information for fishing activities, including regulations on exploitation, port entry and exit, marine weather forecasts, fishing safety practices, and legal provisions related to IUU fishing. 

With a simple QR code scan, fishers can easily look up and access information anytime, anywhere, contributing to enhanced awareness and law compliance while working at sea. 

Additionally, the “Anonymous Crime Reporting Box” model was deployed to create a channel for the public to report law violations, IUU fishing activities, and issues related to maritime security and order. This initiative leverages the role of the public in safeguarding national sovereignty, maintaining security and order, and building a strong all-people border defense posture. 

Applying digital transformation to awareness raising not only modernizes law dissemination methods but also helps fishers access information quickly, conveniently, and effectively. This is a practical solution that enhances fisheries management and builds a sustainable, responsible fishing industry. It also demonstrates the determination of all levels of administration and sectors to implement European Commission recommendations toward the early removal of the “Yellow Card” warning on Vietnamese seafood. 

By DUONG UT - HOA BINH
Translated by ANH DUC