As the main force in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the border guard forces along the coast of Thanh Hoa province have recently launched a high-intensity campaign against IUU fishing, together with relevant levels, sectors, and units.
Sam Son Border Guard Station is disseminating information and guiding vessel owners to sign commitments to combat IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing.
With a large and diverse number of vessels operating in various sectors within the patrol and control area, in order for the fight against IUU fishing to truly permeate the thoughts and awareness of each fisherman, the officers and soldiers of the Hai Hoa Border Guard Station (located in Nghi Son town) have closely monitored the situation at the grassroots level, focusing on patrols combined with propaganda to each fisherman with the motto "Know about the vessel, know the owner of the vessel, know the captain, know the type of fishing activity, and know the communication channels."
From the beginning of 2024 to the present, the Hai Hoa Border Guard Station has organized propaganda activities at boat mooring points, visited individual fishermen's homes to encourage them to sign commitments to comply with regulations on fisheries exploitation for 553 vessels; broadcast over 100 hours of propaganda on the town's and wards' public address systems; distributed over 300 leaflets and brochures, hung banners and slogans at estuaries; and created 4 clusters of visual propaganda slogans at estuaries. Simultaneously, in coordination with the Thanh Hoa Fisheries Sub-Department, the Lach Bang Fishing Port Management Board, and local Party committees and authorities, they conducted patrols and inspections at sea and estuaries, inspecting 83 vessels/490 workers, and issuing administrative penalties in 8 cases/8 vessels.
Major Luong Khac Hanh, Deputy Political Officer of Hai Hoa Border Guard Station, said: "The unit is assigned to be in charge of 9 wards and 23.5km of coastline with a large number of fishing vessels, so disseminating information about regulations on preventing and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing to ship owners is always a priority. This includes weekly propaganda sessions, distributing leaflets, handing out flags at ports, and broadcasting messages through the town's, ward's, and neighborhood's public address systems. We are determined to prevent vessels without proper documentation from departing and are stepping up administrative enforcement against vessels that intentionally violate regulations."
At the Sam Son Border Guard Station, during the peak period of combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, the unit intensified propaganda activities, continued to review, mobilize, and guide vessel owners to sign commitments to combat IUU fishing, coordinated with communes and wards in the area to affix signs to 46 "three-no" vessels (not registered, inspected, or licensed for fishing); and educated fishermen not to leave port without ensuring all necessary procedures and documents are in place. Simultaneously, they coordinated with the Thanh Hoa Fisheries Sub-Department to strengthen patrols and controls at sea, and strictly handle violations in accordance with the law.
In response to the European Commission's lifting of the "yellow card" imposed on Vietnam's fisheries sector, the Thanh Hoa Border Guard Command has directed its coastal border guard posts to effectively manage, control, and urge fishing vessels to return to their homes; to coordinate with local authorities in numbering and managing rafts and boats that do not meet registration requirements; to verify and process administrative violations by fishing vessels; and to focus on managing offshore fishing vessels. Specifically, in 2023 and up to March 12, 2024, border guard posts conducted over 200 patrols and inspections of more than 11,000 fishing vessels, detecting and handling 91 cases/91 individuals violating regulations in the fisheries sector, contributing nearly 500 million VND to the state budget. Authorities have arrested and prosecuted three individuals in two separate cases for illegally transporting and trading explosives, seizing 10kg of explosives, 500 detonators, and 149m of slow-burning fuse.
During the peak period of the campaign against IUU fishing from January 1st to April 30th, 2024, the Thanh Hoa Border Guard Command implemented a comprehensive set of measures to investigate and verify fishing vessels crossing the eastern boundary line in the Gulf of Tonkin. They established numerous task forces to directly coordinate with border guard posts to control entry and exit from ports, and to patrol, inspect, and handle fishing vessels violating regulations. They also closely coordinated with units and the People's Committees of coastal districts to organize propaganda, inspections, and reviews of fishing vessels lacking proper procedures and documents, and to urge the implementation of tasks to prevent and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. During the peak period, 3,000 leaflets outlining 14 IUU violations under Article 60 of the Fisheries Law were distributed to border guard posts and stations for distribution to fishermen.
The provincial Border Guard Command also instructed and deployed all coastal border posts and stations to maintain a 24/7 presence at river and estuary mouths; strengthened law enforcement measures, resolutely preventing fishing vessels (including those from other provinces) from going to sea without ensuring the required procedures and documents; accurately managed and determined the mooring locations of vessels lacking proper documentation and safety equipment; kept a close watch on vessels lacking necessary procedures, documents, and safety equipment in the area; and focused on handling vessels that deliberately evade inspection and control by functional forces.
According to Do Xuan Chung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Thanh Ward (Nghi Son District): "In our ward, there are 213 boats over 15 meters in length, and 100% of them now have vessel tracking devices. The border guard force has disseminated information to each boat owner about preventing IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, contributing to changing the fishermen's awareness of seafood exploitation, and each local fisherman has committed to not fishing in prohibited areas."
With a spirit of no exceptions, no forbidden zones, and strict handling of violations, the Thanh Hoa Border Guard is determined to address the EC's recommendations and contribute to the nationwide effort to lift the "yellow card" as soon as possible.
Text and photos: Hoang Lan
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