The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has ordered its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to get tougher on illegal fishing in foreign waters by local fishing ships and their owners.

The European Commission (EC) has made positive assessment of Vietnam’s fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing following two inspections in the past over three years since EC imposed a “yellow card” on Vietnam’s export of aquatic products to Europe.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Pham Vinh Quang had a working session on October 16 with the host country’s Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo to exchange views on measures to intensify bilateral marine and fisheries cooperation.