Towards efficient and sustainable fisheries exploitation

(Quang Ngai Newspaper) - Reducing the number of fishing vessels and increasing fishing capacity is the solution proposed by the agricultural sector to achieve effective and sustainable seafood exploitation.

According to Decision No. 389/2024/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on the Planning for the Protection and Exploitation of Aquatic Resources for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050, localities nationwide will adjust to reduce at least 12% of the total number of fishing vessels compared to 2020. At the same time, restructuring the fishing industry such as: Trawling accounts for 10%; purse seine accounts for 6.1%; gillnet accounts for 40.3%; fishing accounts for 18.9%; seine accounts for 3%; cage trapping accounts for 2.9%; other occupations account for 16.6% and logistics occupations for catching aquatic resources account for 2.2% of the total number of fishing vessels.

Fishermen's fishing boats anchored at Sa Huynh fishing port (Duc Pho town).

Quang Ngai currently has a fleet of 4,336 vessels, with a total capacity of more than 1.76 million CV. Of which, 439 fishing vessels are from 6m to under 12m in length; 818 are from 12m to under 15m; 2,917 are from 15m to under 24m; and 162 are from 24m and above. By the end of August 2024, fishing licenses had been granted to 2,424 fishing vessels (more than 43%). In recent years, the province has implemented a policy of reducing the number of fishing vessels, strictly controlling the granting of licenses and fishing quotas, gradually reducing vessels under 15m in length exploiting coastal and offshore waters. Currently, the number of vessels in the province has decreased from 4,758 (in 2021) to 4,336 (in August 2024). Of which, there are currently 3,079 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more operating offshore. The number of trawlers has decreased from 32.3% (in 2021) to less than 29%. Although the number of fishing vessels has decreased according to the development orientation. However, the current infrastructure still does not meet the development requirements of the fisheries industry. The scale and capacity of fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels do not meet the planning requirements.

After being caught, fish are gathered at Tinh Ky fishing port (Quang Ngai city) for consumption.

The province's marine fisheries output has continuously increased in recent years. Specifically, in 2021, the fisheries output reached more than 264 thousand tons; in 2022, more than 268.6 thousand tons; in 2023, more than 273 thousand tons. Particularly, the output from the beginning of 2024 to present is estimated at over 206 thousand tons, an increase of 2% over the same period in 2023. However, this growth is not sustainable, because vessels under 15m in length are exploiting in offshore and coastal areas excessively and are not well controlled, leading to the gradual depletion of aquatic resources.

To achieve effective and sustainable fishing, first of all, the fishing industry needs to strengthen the investigation of fluctuations in marine resources in sea areas, especially coastal areas, to serve the determination of fishing license quotas of localities. Strengthen the management of fishing vessels, fishing grounds, and resources in the area; focus on developing in the direction of gradually reducing small-capacity vessels and gradually increasing the number of large-capacity vessels. The structure of fishing vessels is in the direction of gradually reducing the number of vessels fishing in coastal and offshore waters. By 2025, our province will maintain the output of fishing at 260 thousand tons/year.
Head of the provincial Fisheries Department Nguyen Van Muoi said that in order to gradually reduce the occupations that have negative impacts on the environment and aquatic resources, we have issued fishing licenses according to the assigned quota and continued to temporarily suspend the development of fishing vessels for trawling and diving. At the same time, we have reduced the number of fishing vessels to ensure that exploitation is appropriate to the reserves of resources in the sea.

Article and photos: HONG HOA

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Source: https://baoquangngai.vn/kinh-te/bien-kinh-te-bien/202409/huong-den-khai-thac-thuy-san-hieu-qua-va-ben-vung-cc714a7/