Ben Tre, April 11 -- The southern province of Ben Tre is ramping up efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as it prepares to welcome the European Commission's (EC) fifth inspection mission, aiming to have the "yellow card" warning lifted.

According to the provincial People's Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has been tasked with coordinating closely with local authorities at district, city and commune levels to update records on inactive, damaged, or missing fishing vessels. The department is also enhancing efforts to encourage vessel owners to complete registration and licensing procedures, while conducting sudden inspections at mooring areas and ports to detect unlicensed operations ...