On August 28, 2025, Lam Dong province found itself at the center of a growing administrative and regulatory challenge, as nearly 800 local fishing vessels faced expired registration certificates, and an even larger number—1,478 vessels—were left with lapsed fishing permits. According to urgent dispatches from the province’s Department of Agriculture and Environment, this mounting backlog has left many vessels unable to meet operational requirements, posing a serious threat to the region’s ongoing fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The origins of this predicament trace back to July 1, 2025, when a sweeping administrative merger created the new Lam Dong province. The reorganization brought together several specialized management agencies, including the Fisheries and Islands Sub-Department and the Fishing Vessel Registration Center. However, as reported by VietnamPlus and PLO, these agencies are still awaiting the official issuance of their new mandates, organizational structures, and, crucially, their official seals. Without these, they have been unable to process or approve the necessary paperwork for vessel registration renewals, causing a bottleneck that has only grown with time.
With each passing week, the number of fishing vessels in regulatory limbo has increased. As of late August, the count stood at 789 vessels with expired registration certificates and 1,478 with expired fishing permits, according to figures provided by the Department of Agriculture and Environment. This lack of up-to-date paperwork doesn’t just affect the paperwork itself; it has real-world implications for the safety and legal standing of vessels operating off Lam Dong’s coast. More importantly, it undermines the province’s efforts to clamp down on IUU fishing—a mission that has become a national priority in Vietnam as the country seeks to maintain sustainable fisheries and meet international commitments.
“Currently, many fishing vessels owned by residents in Lam Dong province have expired registration certificates but lack specialized agencies to promptly resolve these issues, increasing the number of vessels not meeting operational conditions, significantly affecting the province’s IUU fishing prevention mission,” the Department stated in its official communication, as reported by PLO.
To address the growing crisis, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has issued a flurry of official dispatches, calling on the Provincial Border Guard Command, the Fisheries and Islands Sub-Department, and the People’s Committees of all coastal wards and communes—including the special zone of Phu Quy—to take immediate action. The Department has tasked the Fisheries and Islands Sub-Department with directing the Registration Center to conduct a comprehensive review of all vessels with expired registrations. Special attention is being paid to vessels that have both expired registration and fishing permits, with local authorities receiving detailed lists so they can urge vessel owners to quickly complete the necessary renewal procedures.
But that’s just one part of the solution. Recognizing that the backlog cannot be cleared by government agencies alone, the Department has also reached out to several legally operating, non-governmental vessel registration centers in the region. These include the Dai Duong Fishing Vessel Registration Center, active at Cat Lo port in Vung Tau and Ca Na port in Khanh Hoa; the Fisheries Safety and Registration Company Limited, with offices in Phan Rang, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City; and the Bien Dong Fishing Vessel Registration Company, based in Quy Nhon, Gia Lai. By coordinating with these centers, authorities hope to speed up the renewal process and get more vessels back into legal operation as soon as possible.
The Registration Center itself is now required to work closely with these external partners, ensuring that all registration data is updated promptly and accurately in the national fisheries database, known as VNFishbase. This database is a key tool for fisheries management in Vietnam, allowing authorities to track compliance and monitor the health of fisheries resources across the country. According to VietnamPlus, “The Registration Center is responsible for coordinating with legal public fishing vessel registration establishments to update and synchronize registration information into the national fisheries database (VNFishbase) timely and accurately.”
Enforcement is also ramping up. The Department has asked the Provincial Border Guard Command and related agencies to strengthen their inspection and control of fishing vessels at local seaports. This means that vessels without up-to-date registration or permits will not be allowed to depart for fishing operations—a move intended to ensure that only compliant vessels are active on the water. “The Department requested the Provincial Border Guard Command and related agencies to strengthen inspection and control of fishing vessels at seaports, prohibiting vessels from departing if they do not meet legal and technical conditions,” VietnamPlus reported. Authorities have made it clear that violations will be handled firmly, with fines and other penalties for those who fail to comply.
For many vessel owners and fishermen, the delays have created significant uncertainty. Without valid registration or permits, they risk losing valuable fishing time during peak season, which can have a direct impact on their livelihoods. Local officials are now working overtime to communicate with vessel owners, providing them with up-to-date information on where and how to complete the necessary procedures, whether through government channels or approved non-governmental centers.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by the broader context of Vietnam’s efforts to combat IUU fishing. The European Union, a major market for Vietnamese seafood, has repeatedly warned that continued violations could result in a so-called “yellow card”—a trade warning that could restrict exports and damage the country’s seafood industry. Lam Dong’s administrative hiccup, while local in nature, feeds into these larger national and international concerns.
Yet, the path forward is clear, if not easy. The Department of Agriculture and Environment has laid out a multi-pronged plan: complete the organizational transition for the new province, empower both governmental and non-governmental registration centers to clear the backlog, and enforce strict compliance on the water. Local authorities are being urged to provide hands-on support to vessel owners, and databases are being updated to ensure transparency and accountability.
As the situation develops, many in Lam Dong’s fishing communities are watching closely, hoping that the administrative gears will start turning more smoothly. For now, the message from the authorities is unmistakable: compliance is not optional, and the province is committed to restoring order to its fishing fleet as quickly as possible. With livelihoods and international reputations on the line, the stakes could hardly be higher.
