US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper discusses the assistance package with Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam Phung Duc Tien. Photo: Van Si/VNA

Made possible by the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the assistance package will support Vietnam in strengthening maritime law enforcement and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It includes support for Vietnamese maritime law enforcement agencies via the donation of small boats, capacity building, and the development of realistic maritime law enforcement training facilities.

Deputy Minister Tien applauded the US's support for Vietnam's fisheries industry through programs, projects, and technical assistance in aquatic resource conservation, especially capacity building for Vietnam fisheries surveillance force and IUU fishing prevention. The aid package will add important resources to Vietnam's fisheries surveillance and maritime law enforcement forces, he said.