The policy, adopted by the Provincial People’s Council, aims to help fishing communities adapt to new production conditions while promoting sustainable fisheries development, according to local authorities.
The policy, adopted by the Provincial People’s Council, aims to help fishing communities adapt to new production conditions while promoting sustainable fisheries development, according to local authorities.
The Sub-Department of Fisheries said the sector has faced mounting difficulties in recent years as aquatic resources diminish, fuel and material costs surge, and increasingly unpredictable weather raises risks for vessels and crews. At the same time, enforcement of regulations against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has intensified.
Requirements on voyage monitoring, catch logbooks and product traceability have been strictly implemented, exposing limitations among small-capacity vessels using traditional fishing methods. Boats that do not meet legal standards have been forced to remain ashore.
In Quy Nhon Dong Ward, owners of older vessels have registered for decommissioning, citing high upgrade costs and dwindling catches that often result in losses. In Phu My Dong Commune, some owners have replaced land engines with marine engines and completed licensing procedures, while others who did not upgrade have also opted for decommissioning.
Ho Tan Nhanh, secretary of Hamlet 9 Party Cell in Phu My Dong Commune, said supportive policies are essential to encourage compliance. Without them, ineligible but still usable vessels could continue operating illegally, creating risks for owners and society. “Tightening management must go hand in hand with suitable livelihood solutions so fishermen can transition with confidence,” he said.
Resolution No. 27/2025 is designed with dual objectives: protecting aquatic resources while safeguarding livelihoods and social welfare in fishing communities. Beyond financial assistance for decommissioning, the policy focuses on long-term occupational transition.
Eligible beneficiaries include vessel owners, crew members, direct fisheries workers and dependent household members who meet stipulated conditions. Support measures cover vocational training, job-transition counselling, job placement services and access to preferential loans to develop new livelihoods suited to local conditions.
Cao Thanh Thuong, director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said occupational transition does not mean abandoning the sea but restructuring the fishing fleet to be more efficient and manageable. Decommissioning non-compliant vessels will ease fisheries management while opening alternative livelihood opportunities, he said.
After transitioning, workers may engage in aquaculture, fisheries logistics, seafood processing, coastal community tourism or non-agricultural sectors in their localities.
The resolution comes as the province intensifies efforts to combat IUU fishing under a government-directed action plan. The Prime Minister has instructed local authorities to issue policies on occupational transition and vessel decommissioning in line with local conditions.
Authorities said effective implementation will depend on coordinated action across departments and local governments, transparent delivery of support and active participation by fishermen. Local administrations will be responsible for outreach, reviewing ineligible vessels and guiding fishermen to access support, Mr. Thuong said, stressing that consensus and legal compliance are key to the policy’s success.