For offshore fishing vessels, vessel monitoring systems (VMS) are not only a mandatory requirement under Vietnam's Law on Fisheries, but also play a vital role in ensuring fishermen's safety, monitoring fishing activities, and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council recently introduced a policy to subsidize the replacement and installation of new vessel monitoring systems.
Quang Ninh province currently has 280 fishing vessels measuring 15 metres or longer that are required to install and maintain continuous 24/7 VMS connectivity. On April 28, 2026, the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 06 on financial support for the purchase of vessel monitoring systems during the 2026–2030 period. Under the policy, eligible vessel owners are entitled to a one-time subsidy covering 70% of the equipment cost, capped at VND15 million per device. To date, 53 fishing vessel owners have registered for the programme. The Quang Ninh provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment is continuing to assist them in completing the required documentation before submitting funding requests to the Department of Finance for approval and disbursement.
By Hai Ha
