Nearly 2,000 fishing vessels will receive subsidies for VMS satellite service subscription fees.

At the 28th (special) session of the 11th Provincial People's Council, held on the morning of November 13th, a resolution was passed stipulating the policy of supporting subscription fees for satellite tracking services for fishing vessels in Binh Thuan province.

Accordingly, the Resolution stipulates a subsidy of VND 175,000 per month per vessel for the subscription fee of satellite vessel tracking services, which is nearly 50% of the current monthly subscription fee (currently, fishing vessel owners pay between VND 350,000 and VND 435,000 per device (average VND 381,000 per device), depending on the service provider). The subsidy will be provided for 36 months, starting from January 1, 2025, through the service provider. Subsidies will be paid quarterly according to the contract signed between the service provider and the fishing vessel owner, with invoices from the service provider. The total estimated funding for supporting approximately 1,950 vessels over 3 years is 12.285 billion VND, averaging 4.095 billion VND per year, from the provincial budget.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chien - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, speaks at the thematic session. (Photo: D. Hoa)

Fishing vessel owners eligible for support must meet the following conditions: The fishing vessel must have a maximum length of 15 meters or more, be registered in Binh Thuan province, and possess all the following documents: valid fishing vessel registration certificate; valid technical safety certificate; and valid fishing license. A signed contract for satellite vessel tracking services between the vessel owner and the service provider, along with a service invoice, is required. The vessel tracking device installed on the fishing vessel must maintain a continuous connection signal while operating at sea, in accordance with regulations. Importantly, fishing vessel owners will not receive support for satellite vessel tracking service subscription fees if they violate any of the following: The fishing vessel has been penalized for administrative violations related to illegal fishing activities as stipulated in Article 60 of the 2017 Fisheries Law. The period during which support is withheld is 12 months from the date of the administrative penalty decision. Fishing vessels that remain docked continuously for 2 months (60 days) or more in a quarter will not be eligible for support in that quarter.

The resolution stipulates a policy to support subscription fees for satellite tracking services for fishing vessels. (Photo: D. Hoa)

Binh Thuan currently has 1,949 fishing vessels with a maximum length of 15 meters or more that are required to install VMS equipment according to the 2017 Fisheries Law. To date, 1,941 out of 1,949 active fishing vessels in the province have installed VMS equipment, achieving a 100% rate; the number of fishing vessels that have not installed VMS is 8 due to inactivity (3 vessels damaged and awaiting sale, 5 vessels awaiting enforcement of judgments). According to Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP, VMS equipment installed on fishing vessels must be switched on 24/7 from the time the vessel leaves port to operate at sea until it returns to port.

Nearly 2,000 fishing vessels measuring 15 meters or more that are currently operating at sea will receive support for VMS service fees.

According to statistics from service providers, the number of vessels whose service fees had expired as of August 16, 2024, was 485 out of 1,941 vessels equipped with VMS devices. When fishing vessel owners fail to pay their satellite service subscription fees on time, the VMS equipment provider will disconnect the VMS device, leading to ineffective data from the vessel monitoring system and making the prevention and control of IUU fishing more difficult.

24/7 monitoring and surveillance of 100% of fishing vessels operating at sea through the vessel monitoring system.

The issuance of a policy to subsidize the subscription fees for satellite services and VMS equipment on fishing vessels in the province is necessary. (Photo: N. Lan)

Therefore, the issuance of a policy to support the subscription fees for VMS satellite services on fishing vessels in the province is necessary to seriously implement the directives of the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing, and to join the whole country in lifting the EC's "Yellow Card," moving towards building a responsible and sustainable fisheries industry. At the same time, it contributes to supporting fishermen in staying at sea and affirming the sacred sovereignty and sovereign rights over the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/gan-2-000-tau-ca-se-duoc-ho-tro-phi-thue-bao-dich-vu-ve-tinh-vms-125688.html