Organize for captains to sign commitment to combat IUU fishing. Photo: VNA

With over 700 vessels, Ganh Hao town, Dong Hai district, is the locality with the highest number of fishing vessels in Bac Lieu province. Along with creating conditions for fishermen to improve fishing efficiency, in recent times, Ganh Hao town has always focused on effectively implementing the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Secretary of the Ganh Hao town Party Committee, Huynh Tan Khanh, shared that the town is very interested in promptly implementing directives from superiors on implementing tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing. Along with that, actively coordinating with functional branches of the province and Dong Hai district to organize many 6 propaganda sessions for nearly 500 fishermen to attend; organizing for 130 ship owners and captains to sign a commitment to strictly comply with regulations in fishing, not to violate foreign waters...

At Ganh Hao seaport, the management of fishing vessels entering and leaving is always strictly implemented by the Ganh Hao Border Guard. Captain Nguyen Duy Thanh, Deputy Head of Ganh Hao Station, said that, implementing the direction of the Government and the Provincial Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing, the Border Guard closely coordinated with local authorities and functional forces to inspect and control 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving the port at the Border Guard control station; not allowing "3 no" fishing vessels, fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions to participate in fishing; organizing a hotline for fishermen to call the Border Guard force to dispatch support vessels if they encounter problems...

Thanks to the promotion of propaganda measures and strict handling of violations by the authorities, fishermen in Ganh Hao increasingly understand and comply with regulations on IUU fishing. Mr. Dang Quoc Thuy, owner of Binh Minh fishing boat, Ganh Hao town, shared that by participating in propaganda and legaleducation sessions, fishermen's awareness has increasingly improved.

People are well aware that fishing in foreign waters is a violation of the law and has a negative impact on the country's fisheries industry, so they have long only fished in their own waters. According to Mr. Dang Quoc Thuy, the installation of billboards, posters, distribution of legal leaflets, and effective propaganda in the community helps fishing boat owners and fishermen at sea understand more deeply the provisions of the law, thereby working together towards the goal of removing and issuing a yellow card warning for Vietnam's fisheries sector.

Similarly, in Bac Lieu city, the fight against IUU fishing has created a strong change in officials and civil servants, especially fishermen. The People's Committee of Bac Lieu city determined that fighting against IUU fishing is an important, urgent, long-term task, directly related to the lives of fishermen, socio-economic development, and ensuring national defense and security. Bac Lieu city actively propagates, mobilizes, promptly detects early, from afar, and prevents right from the shore, fishing vessels and fishermen intending to violate, especially illegal fishing in foreign waters.

Bac Lieu City also coordinates with functional sectors to monitor and supervise 100% of fishing vessels operating at sea through the fishing vessel monitoring system, clearly grasps and strictly handles each case of violation of regulations on loss of connection to the journey monitoring device such as: not reporting location every 6 hours, losing connection for more than 10 days without returning the vessel to shore, losing connection for more than 6 months or 1 year... Along with that, coordinate with functional sectors to manage and control 100% of the city's fishing vessels operating outside the province and foreign fishing vessels operating in the city, thereby exchanging information with relevant localities to promptly prevent and handle cases of IUU fishing violations.

Disseminating legal regulations on combating IUU fishing to fishermen. Photo: VNA

Bac Lieu province currently has 862 fishing vessels; of which, 424 are vessels with a length of 15 m or more, 171 are vessels with a length of 12 to less than 15 m, and 267 are vessels with a length of 6 to less than 12 m. The number of registered fishing vessels is 847, reaching 96.87% of the total number of vessels in the province. 100% of fishing vessels with a length of 15 m or more operating at sea are equipped with voyage monitoring equipment according to regulations.

To further improve the effectiveness of the fight against IUU fishing, contributing to the early removal of the "yellow card" for the Vietnamese seafood industry, Bac Lieu province is continuing to promote communication work, while strictly managing and strictly handling violations. Mr. Pham Van Muoi, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bac Lieu province, said: With the spirit of determination and determination in fighting against IUU fishing, the department has directed the Fisheries Sub-Department to coordinate with border guards and localities with fishing vessels to closely review, make statistics, and compile a list of "3 no" vessels for coordinated management. This list is sent to border guards, local authorities, fishing port management boards and neighboring coastal provinces to support control. For vessels that do not meet the conditions and procedures, they are resolutely not allowed to go to sea to exploit seafood.

Functional units under the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bac Lieu province also arranged forces to monitor fishing vessel activities 24/7 through the journey monitoring system; coordinate with Border Guard forces and localities to notify and remind ship owners and captains when fishing vessels lose connection while operating at sea or cross maritime boundaries.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bac Lieu province will continue to strengthen coordination with the Provincial Border Guard Command and the Provincial Police to launch a peak period of patrolling and controlling fishing activities in the province's sea areas, resolutely and strictly handling IUU fishing activities, with no prohibited areas, ensuring effectiveness and efficiency.

According to baotintuc.vn

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/khac-phuc-the-vang-iuu-lap-danh-sach-cac-tau-ca-3-khong-de-phoi-hop-quan-ly-154975.html