"We come right to your door, right to the dock."
During the peak period of the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, ships and boats of the 11th Naval Squadron (Command of Coast Guard Region 1) are actively carrying out duties in the waters of Cat Ba, Bach Long Vi, the Gulf of Tonkin, etc.
In these areas, the CSB 9004, 6002 vessels and boat 722 not only perform duties such as patrolling, inspecting, and monitoring, but also organize awareness campaigns through various means to help fishermen understand the regulations and the urgency of ending IUU fishing, and to protect and sustainably develop the fisheries industry.
Captain Le Cong Tien of the TH 81812 TS vessel shared: “Our fishing boat fishes around Bach Long Vi Island and frequently operates near the maritime demarcation line between Vietnam and China. Previously, due to insufficient understanding, when the boat was idle and not fishing, I often let it drift to save fuel, but because I didn't pay attention to the coordinates, I crossed the demarcation line. However, recently, thanks to the coast guard officers and soldiers disseminating legal knowledge about fishing activities and guiding us on the permitted fishing zones, we have strictly complied and do not encroach on the waters of our neighbor.”
On land, coast guard officers and soldiers also go "to the homes and docks" to disseminate information and guide vessel owners and fishermen on regulations regarding IUU fishing. Every day, whenever a ship docks, officers and soldiers of Squadron 102 (Naval Brigade 11, Command of Coast Guard Region 1) are present at the dock to "welcome the ship," disseminate information, provide guidance, and assist captains in checking VMS equipment, verifying fishing coordinates, guiding them in troubleshooting technical errors, and instructing them on how to contact relevant authorities in case of incidents at sea.
Fisherman Nguyen Van Ty, owner of fishing vessel HT 90333 TS, said: “Thanks to the dedicated guidance of the coast guard, we always feel secure going out to sea, no longer worrying about violations. Before, I sometimes found those regulations cumbersome and only made things difficult for the people, but after listening to the officers' explanations, we understood that those regulations were to protect ourselves. Now, every time I go out to sea, I consider turning on the monitoring equipment and keeping a logbook a habit.”
Lieutenant Colonel Dao Van Khanh, Political Officer of Squadron 102, affirmed: "IUU propaganda is not only a legal task, but also a special form of public relations, where each officer and soldier is both a propagandist and a friend of the fishermen. We must speak so that the people understand, act so that the people believe, and so that they voluntarily comply. Only then can we stop IUU fishing at its root."
According to Deputy Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region 1 Command, Truong Van Hung, the propaganda work for fishermen is organized flexibly and diversely, suitable to practical conditions. During missions at sea, the Regional Command instructs officers and soldiers on the ships to take advantage of calm seas to directly distribute leaflets and remind fishermen to strictly comply with IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing regulations. During rough seas, officers and soldiers conduct propaganda via radio, Icom systems, and loudspeakers. Thanks to this, not only is awareness raised among fishermen, but many fishing vessels have been prevented from crossing the demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Implement multiple synchronized solutions.
According to statistics, during the peak period of combating IUU fishing, the patrol and control vessels of the Coast Guard Region 1 Command have so far conducted awareness campaigns for 35 vessels/216 fishermen, distributed 225 leaflets of various kinds, and driven 190 foreign vessels out of Vietnamese waters.
Units under the Regional Command coordinated with local Party committees, authorities, and border guard forces to conduct propaganda at ports, wharves, and docks for nearly 400 fishermen. The No. 1 Anti-Drug Crime Task Force (Vietnam Coast Guard), during its mission, disseminated legal information via fishing communication equipment to hundreds of fishing vessels and thousands of fishermen; conducted mobile inspections and direct propaganda on 55 fishing vessels/481 fishermen, distributed over 480 leaflets, and there were no cases requiring administrative penalties...
Besides strengthening propaganda efforts, the coast guard closely coordinates with other forces: the navy, border guards, and the Departments of Agriculture and Environment of coastal provinces and cities to promptly exchange information, prevent, detect, investigate, and thoroughly handle violations of IUU fishing, with prevention and deterrence being the main focus. This includes concentrating on detecting fishing vessels that have not returned to their localities for a long time, showing signs of IUU fishing, or committing serious violations such as expired registration or inspection certificates.
At the same time, maintain joint patrols in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard to check compliance with regulations on combating IUU fishing by fishing vessels of both sides along the route.
The coast guard forces of the two countries will utilize the second-level liaison channel between the Command of Coast Guard Region 1 (Vietnam Coast Guard) and the South China Sea Branch/China Coast Guard; monthly, regularly, or on an ad hoc basis, they will inform each other about fishing vessels violating regulations to enhance management and handling in accordance with the law.
In the coming period, to effectively prevent illegal fishing, agencies and units under the Regional Command will continue to implement comprehensive and decisive operational measures, strengthen reconnaissance forces to gather information on fishing vessels violating IUU fishing regulations; conduct thorough basic investigations, focusing on key areas, high-risk targets, and organizations and individuals acting as intermediaries in sending vessels to foreign waters for illegal fishing, etc., as a basis for advising, proposing, and implementing measures to combat and prevent such activities.
The organization maintains and enhances the effectiveness of the command center's duty shifts, closely monitoring the practical situation in the sea area, gathering information on all aspects, especially information on fishing vessels showing signs of violations, such as crossing boundaries, turning off VMS devices on the national fishing vessel tracking system, and promptly notifying coast guard vessels on duty in the field to inspect, prevent, and handle the situation - Major General Tran Van Tho, Commander of Coast Guard Region 1, informed.
HOANG XUANSource: https://baohaiphong.vn/hai-phong-siet-chat-kiem-soat-chan-tu-goc-khai-thac-iuu-526728.html
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