We need fundamental solutions.

Over the years, Binh Thuan province has focused its resources, along with support from the central government, on investing in the construction of important fishing ports and storm shelters to serve fishermen's vessels for entry, entry, anchorage, product distribution, fuel reception, and storm shelter. However, the estuaries in the province have deteriorated, the channels leading to and from the ports are silted up, and the drainage system is damaged, causing pollution and failing to ensure environmental hygiene, especially at La Gi and Phan Ri Cua fishing ports.

Difficulties in entering and exiting the port.

Currently, the province has 8 river and sea estuaries with fishing vessels operating from North to South, including: Lien Huong and Phan Ri estuaries in Tuy Phong district; Phu Hai and Ca Ty estuaries in Phan Thiet city; Ba Dang and La Gi estuaries in La Gi town; and Ho Lan and Ha Lang estuaries in Ham Tan district. All of the above-mentioned river and sea estuaries are included in the planning for the construction of fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels as stipulated in Decision No. 1976/QD-TTg dated November 12, 2015, of the Prime Minister . Of these, 5 estuaries have already had fishing ports and storm shelters built (including Lien Huong, Phan Ri, Phu Hai, Ca Ty, and La Gi estuaries).

cang-phan-ri-cua-anh-n.-lan-3-.jpg — The estuary of Phan Rí Cửa town (photo: N. Lân)

However, the problem of siltation in river and sea estuaries, mooring areas, and fishing ports has persisted for many years. The Provincial People's Committee has paid attention to this issue, organizing meetings to discuss solutions and issuing numerous documents assigning responsibilities to departments, agencies, and localities. Nevertheless, the results are still very limited. Socialized projects for dredging and extracting saline-contaminated sand to offset costs have revealed many shortcomings, are protracted, and have not achieved their goals, causing frustration among fishermen. Siltation at the estuaries will cause shallow water, making navigation difficult for ships and increasing the risk of accidents.

The silting up of the estuary will narrow the waterway, making it difficult for ships to navigate (photo: N. Lan).

At the Phan Rí Cửa estuary, siltation continues to recur, causing significant difficulties for local fishermen. Although a dredging project was assigned to a company through a public-private partnership in 2010, Bình Thuận province has adjusted the investment plan for the urgent dredging of the estuary channel and waters in front of the Phan Rí Cửa fishing port three times, but the dredging volume has not met expectations. At the end of 2023, a fishing boat from Hải Tân 3 neighborhood, Phan Rí Cửa town, sank while trawling 6 meters from the estuary due to strong waves and winds. Similarly, the boat BTh-86892-TS, with a 45 HP engine, owned by Mr. Lê Minh Diệp, residing in Thanh Giang 1 neighborhood, Phan Rí Cửa town, sank while traveling from the sea to the Phan Rí Cửa fishing port to sell seafood due to shallow water and sandbanks. The family is currently trying to salvage the vessel and bring it to Phan Rí Cửa fishing port for repairs. The estimated damage from these two incidents is hundreds of millions of dong. Many cases of boats running aground have occurred at this estuary, and fishermen have repeatedly petitioned for solutions, but none have been effective.

According to the Phan Rí Cửa fishing port management board, due to difficulties in entering and exiting the port, many large fishing vessels from Tuy Phong district have to dock at Phan Thiết port, a fishing port in Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu province, to sell their products. If they want to dock at Phan Rí, they have to divide their goods onto smaller boats and ships for transportation from the middle of the river to the dock, leading to increased costs for ship owners. At the same time, this creates difficulties for businesses providing logistics services for the fishing industry due to a shortage of raw materials.

Prioritize measures to combat IUU fishing.

According to the leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, dredging and clearing silt from river and sea channels, mooring areas, and fishing ports, in addition to the main goals of serving production, preventing natural disasters, and ensuring the safety of fishermen's lives and property, also aims to fulfill the highly urgent task of ensuring the operational conditions of fishing ports, serving the control of fishing vessels, monitoring the production of harvested seafood, and combating IUU fishing. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly define the main objectives, priorities, and timeliness, and to have fundamental solutions and appropriate mechanisms to overcome difficulties and obstacles…

The drainage system is clogged with garbage; the surface of the docks at La Gi fishing port is peeling and uneven.

Ensuring the operational conditions of fishing ports, monitoring seafood catch volumes, and combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing. Photo: N. Lan.

To address the damage, deterioration, and environmental pollution at fishing ports, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination with relevant departments and agencies, submitted a proposal to the Provincial People's Committee for investment in repairing and upgrading port infrastructure. Accordingly, the Phan Rí Cửa Fishing Port Infrastructure Upgrade Project received investment approval from the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 3166/QD-UBND dated November 17, 2021, and the investment project was approved by the Department of Planning and Investment. The contractor selection is expected in the first quarter of 2024, with completion by the end of 2024.

Specifically at La Gi fishing port, the current situation in the 200-400CV berth area shows that the drainage system is clogged with garbage; the roads have subsided and are severely damaged, failing to ensure environmental hygiene – one of the recommendations that the EC requires provinces to meet. These damages hinder the mooring and unloading of seafood products, compromise food safety and hygiene, fail to adequately meet the logistics needs of the fishing industry, and affect the transportation of goods through the port. Due to the urgent need for repairs and severe environmental pollution, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Letter No. 3476/UBND-KT dated September 14, 2023, agreeing to the principle of repairing and rectifying the damage and environmental pollution in the 200-400CV berth area to support the fight against IUU fishing. Currently, the design drawings and cost estimates for the project are under review. Construction is expected to begin in early Q2/2024 and be completed and put into use within 2024.

Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is compiling and reviewing each river and sea estuary where fishermen's boats operate, clearly identifying the main objectives, priorities, and proposing fundamental solutions and appropriate mechanisms to overcome difficulties and obstacles, and reporting to the Provincial People's Committee for guidance and resolution.

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