HCM City, Aug. 27 -- Vietnam's southern coastal provinces are intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with authorities eliminating unlicensed vessels and enforcing strict oversight of offshore fleets as the country seeks to have the European Commission's "yellow card" lifted.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, all "three-no's" fishing boats that lack proper registration, fishing licences, and inspection certificates have been phased out in most of the coastal localities. Additionally, vessel data have been updated in the national fisheries database.

In Ho Chi Minh City's Long Hai commune, more than 1,400 fishing vessels have been brought under control, with boats fro...