Phu Quy Special Economic Zone – A bright spot in the fight against IUU fishing

Determined not to let fishing vessels violate foreign waters, Phu Quy Special Economic Zone is working with Lam Dong province to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, aiming to develop a responsible, sustainable and integrated fisheries industry.

Phu Quy is a locality with a large fishing fleet and logistics services of the province.

Tighten management and supervision, determined not to let IUU violations occur

Phu Quy Special Zone is one of the localities with a large fishing fleet and logistics services in Lam Dong province. Currently, the locality has more than 1,700 fishing vessels with more than 7,500 sea workers; of which, 570 vessels are 15 meters or longer and are qualified for offshore fishing operations.

The total annual output reaches an average of 30,000 - 35,000 tons of seafood, contributing significantly to local socio -economic development.

Propaganda and prevention of IUU fishing are promoted to fishermen.

Since 2017, since the European Commission (EC) applied a "yellow card" to Vietnamese seafood, Phu Quy Special Zone has not recorded any cases of fishing vessels violating foreign waters.

This result is a testament to the drastic and synchronous participation of the entire political system and the increasing self-awareness and awareness of law compliance among fishermen.

Senior Lieutenant Le Ngoc Thanh, Head of Phu Quy Port Border Guard Station, shared: “We are determined not to let fishing boats that do not meet the conditions and do not ensure safety leave port. Ship owners and captains must sign a commitment not to violate foreign waters and strictly comply with regulations on voyage monitoring equipment.

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High-risk vessels will be monitored more closely by authorities to ensure they have no chance of violating IUU fishing regulations.

In addition, inspection and control of fishing vessels before and after the voyage are strictly implemented. Organizations and individuals operating in the field of exploitation, purchase and transportation of seafood are required to strictly comply with the traceability process, ensuring legal and transparent seafood products.

100% of qualified fishing vessels have completed installation of vessel monitoring equipment (VMS).

Mr. Tran Ngoc Dung, Deputy Head of Phu Quy Special Zone Fisheries Control Station, said: “The locality has now completed the installation of voyage monitoring equipment (VMS) for 100% of qualified fishing vessels. Voyage data is continuously updated and monitored.

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If we detect a vessel losing signal or entering a border area, we will immediately contact and request that it return to the permitted area. The goal is to not let any vessel violate or lose connection for more than the specified time.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Dung, Deputy Head of Phu Quy Special Zone Fisheries Control Station

Coordination between Border Guard, Fisheries Surveillance, Fishing Port Management Board and People's Committees of villages and communes is closely implemented, regularly organizing inspections and reminders; at the same time, widely propagating the provisions of the Fisheries Law 2017, decrees and circulars related to IUU and recommendations of the EC.

Ms. Bui Thi Hong Diep, Head of the Executive Board of Trieu Duong Village, said: We organize meetings and community activities to disseminate regulations on legal exploitation, remind people to comply with turning on monitoring devices, and report information on import and export.

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Nowadays, fishermen’s awareness has changed significantly. Everyone understands that only by doing business in accordance with regulations can their products reach the international market.

Ms. Bui Thi Hong Diep, Head of the Executive Board of Trieu Duong Village

Ships anchored at Phu Quy Port

Developing marine economy associated with protecting sovereignty and ecological environment

Phu Quy currently has 80 solidarity groups exploiting seafood at sea, with hundreds of fishing boats supporting each other in exploitation, product consumption and rescue.

This model not only contributes to ensuring the safety of fishermen when operating at sea but also creates a solid foundation for effective fisheries management and monitoring.

Ship solidarity groups support and help each other at sea

Mr. Ngo Minh Duc, a member of Thanh Phu Thanh Fisheries Logistics Service Cooperative, shared: When operating at sea, the solidarity groups regularly contact and remind each other to comply with regulations, not to fish beyond the boundary, and not to use prohibited fishing gear.

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We only purchase seafood from vessels with clear origins, with voyage logs and monitoring data. This is the way to help Phu Quy's fishing industry develop in the right direction, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Mr. Ngo Minh Duc, member of Thanh Phu Thanh Fisheries Logistics Service Cooperative

Along with that, the management of fishing ports, tracing the origin of aquatic products, and controlling output through the port are focused on. The Phu Quy Fishing Port Management Board has coordinated with the Border Guard and Fisheries Surveillance forces to organize 24/7 duty to receive and confirm the output of fishing, avoiding fraud and false data declaration.

Training programs, instructions on logging, declaring output, and using voyage monitoring equipment are held regularly, helping fishermen understand and be more proactive in implementing legal regulations.

The development of local fisheries is always associated with the task of protecting sea and island sovereignty.

Phu Quy Special Economic Zone not only has a particularly important position in terms of marine economy but is also a strategic outpost in terms of national defense and security, contributing to affirming the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland in the East Sea. Therefore, the development of local fisheries is always associated with the task of protecting sovereignty and protecting the marine ecological environment.

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Sustainable fisheries development is a constant requirement. We focus on investing in fisheries infrastructure, building safe anchorage areas and promoting propaganda so that all fishermen are aware of their responsibility in combating IUU fishing.

Mr. Nguyen Van Linh, Vice Chairman of Phu Quy Special Zone People's Committee

In addition, Phu Quy Special Zone also focuses on developing fishing logistics services, creating conditions for fishermen to reduce fuel costs and increase the efficiency of their fishing trips.

Local authorities also coordinate with specialized agencies to strengthen the protection of aquatic resources and strictly handle acts of using explosives, electric shocks, prohibited fishing gear, and destructive fishing.

Thanks to that, the marine ecological environment is preserved, aquatic resources are restored, creating a solid foundation for the long-term development of Phu Quy's fisheries industry.

Local authorities have stepped up propaganda so that all fishermen are deeply aware of their responsibilities in combating IUU fishing.

Nowadays, the requirements for traceability, legality and responsibility in fisheries exploitation are becoming more and more stringent. From the strong direction of the government, the synchronous participation of functional forces and especially the sense of responsibility of fishermen, Phu Quy Special Zone is gradually building the image of a disciplined - responsible - integrated locality in the fisheries sector.

The positive results in the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing not only contribute to the province and the whole country in removing the "yellow card", but also demonstrate the will, honor and commitment of the locality in protecting the reputation of Vietnamese fisheries, preserving the blue ocean and affirming the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/dac-khu-phu-quy-diem-sang-trong-cong-tac-chong-khai-thac-iuu-397438.html