An Giang urgently deploys measures to combat IUU fishing

Fishing boats entering and leaving Tac Cau fishing port.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang province requested departments, branches, People's Committees of communes, wards, and special zones with fishing vessels to urgently carry out the tasks directed by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and documents directing the Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial Steering Committee on IUU. Data reported on fishing vessel management (registration, inspection, licenses, etc.), handling of IUU violations by the People's Committees of wards, communes, special zones, and provincial departments and branches must be consistent with each other.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment is assigned to advise the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the Head of the Provincial IUU Steering Committee to assign members of the Provincial IUU Steering Committee to preside over and coordinate with the Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes, wards, and special zones to directly direct and monitor 880 fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate in the fishing industry in the spirit of "4 clear" (clear current status of the vessel; clear anchorage location of the vessel; clear person assigned to monitor and supervise the vessel; clear owner of the vessel).

The Department of Agriculture and Environment coordinates with press agencies to step up propaganda work to raise public awareness about combating IUU. Make a list of 880 fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate in the fishing industry and post it on mass media for public information, so that the community can participate in management. Coordinate with the People's Committees of communes, wards and special zones to resolutely handle fishing vessels that have lost VMS connection and fishing vessels that have crossed the permitted fishing boundary at sea from the beginning of 2024 to present and complete before November 4, 2025.

Immediately organize a peak period of patrolling, controlling, and strictly handling fishing vessels violating IUU in coastal and offshore areas. Attach a sign "Fishing vessel not qualified for fishing activities" on fishing vessels not qualified for fishing activities.

Advise the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to issue a decision to strengthen the Council for evaluating and explaining the outline and budget for the project of career conversion for fishermen whose fishing vessels are downsized and fishermen whose fishing vessels are converted to new occupations in An Giang province. Advise and research to propose the Provincial People's Committee to request the Provincial People's Council to issue a policy to support the installation of voyage monitoring equipment on fishing vessels with a maximum length of 12m to less than 15m.

Preside over and coordinate with the Department of Science and Technology and Viettel to research and propose to the Provincial People's Committee to install positioning devices for fishing vessels that are not qualified for fishing activities for monitoring and management.

Unloading seafood at Tac Cau Fishing Port.

Advise the Provincial People's Committee to organize the registration of aquaculture vessels and other service vessels so that there are no more fishing vessels without license plates or markings participating in fishing activities in localities. Continue to review and classify each case of unregistered fishing vessels without valid licenses to register, issue new ones or extend fishing licenses according to the instructions in Official Dispatch No. 8324/BNNMT-TSKN, dated October 25, 2025 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The Provincial Border Guard Command urgently reports the results of the implementation of decisions on administrative sanctions against fishing vessels illegally exploiting aquatic products in foreign waters to the Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial Steering Committee on IUU for timely synthesis and reporting to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in accordance with regulations; be responsible to the Provincial People's Committee, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and competent authorities in case of delay, affecting the progress of removing the "yellow card" of the European Commission.

Continue to investigate, verify, and handle cases of fishing vessels being detained by foreign countries; direct border control stations and posts to strictly inspect fishing vessels carrying out exit and entry procedures; resolutely not allow fishing vessels lacking procedures, records, papers, and equipment as prescribed, and fishing vessels with the sign "Fishing vessel not qualified for fishing activities" to leave port.

The provincial police will soon conclude the investigation and complete the file and send it to the Provincial People's Procuracy to complete the indictment and bring the cases to public trial to deter, educate, and raise awareness of fighting IUU. Coordinate with the Provincial Border Guard Command to apply information technology and declare via VNeID to strictly control crew members leaving and arriving at the Border Control Station.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, ward, and special zone shall closely coordinate with the members of the Steering Committee to directly direct the monitoring and supervision of fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for fishing activities in accordance with the spirit of 4 clear; organize the implementation of the regulations on fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for fishing activities in the management area, to be completed before November 4, 2025.

News and photos: THUY TRANG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/an-giang-khan-truong-trien-khai-cac-bien-phap-chong-khai-thac-iuu-a465730.html