Tiếng Việt 
On 27 and 28 August 2026, the Vietnam Tuna Association (VINATUNA), in cooperation with local authorities in Gia Lai and Quang Ngai provinces, held workshops and training sessions on improving sustainable tuna fishing practices.
The activities were organised under the “Vietnam Skipjack tuna purse seine Improvement program under MSC standards (Vietnam SKJ MSC IP)”, and support from the project “Reducing Impacts on Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) Species in the Tuna Purse Seine Fishery.
The first workshop was held in Quy Nhon Ward, Gia Lai Province, on 27 August. The workshop was attended by representatives of the Quy Nhon Ward People’s Committee, the Gia Lai Sub-Department of Fisheries and Islands, and local tuna purse-seine fishers.
The second workshop was held in Tra Cau Ward on 28 August. Attending the workshop were Mr. Nguyen The Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Tra Cau Ward People’s Committee; representatives of the Quang Ngai Sub-Department of Fisheries and Islands and the Pho Quang Fisheries Union; heads of the Hai Tan, An Quang and Phan That residential groups; and more than 40 local tuna fishers. The participation and support of local authorities and relevant organisations created an open and informative forum for local fishery community.
At the workshops, speakers shared knowledge and practical guidance on sustainable fishing, the benefits of applying good fishing practices, and the roadmap for improving Vietnam’s skipjack tuna purse-seine fishery under MSC standards.
The training highlighted the importance of biodiversity protection and marine ecosystem conservation in fishery. Fishers learned how to identify, provide first response, handle and safely release endangered, threatened and protected species that are accidentally caught. They were also introduced to the COPPA application for recording catch data and unintended interactions with endangered species, as well as good practices for reducing and collecting plastic and ghost gears (ALDFG) at sea.
In the workshops, local authorities also briefed participants on new fisheries regulations and national efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Mr. Nguyen The Vinh highlighted the responsibility of fishers to comply with the law and follow all regulations during fishing operations. Representatives from the Quang Ngai Sub-Department of Fisheries and Islands also presented key provisions of Decree No. 246/2026/ND-CP on administrative penalties in the fisheries sector, while encouraging fishers to comply with the rules and fish responsibly.
VINATUNA also worked with the organisers to explain the key points of Decision No. 1516/QD-TTg, issued by the Prime Minister on 10 August 2026. The Decision sets out measures to address recommendations made by the European Commission following its fifth inspection on IUU fishing. These requirements are important for strengthening fisheries management, gradually preventing and ending IUU fishing, and supporting Vietnam’s goal of removing the EC “yellow card” in 2026.
Beyond the training sessions, the workshops gave fishers an opportunity to share their experience and suggestions, while relevant authorities answered questions and provided guidance on fishing operations at sea. The workshops helped raise awareness, strengthen compliance and promote responsible fishing practices in line with protection of marine biodiversity.
Going forward, VINATUNA will continue to work with government agencies, local authorities, businesses and fishing communities on outreach, training and fishery improvement activities. VINATUNA will also continue to serve as a bridge, promote cooperation across the tuna supply chain, contributing to a modern, transparent and responsible Vietnam fisheries sector.
The “Vietnam Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine Fishery Improvement Program under MSC standards” is supported by 09 Vietnamese skipjack tuna processing and exporting companies. List of participants: https://vinatuna.org.vn/.../list-of-companies...
The project “Reducing Impacts on Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) Species in the Tuna Purse Seine Fishery” is funded by PanNature and the Conservation Vietnam.
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