Lam Dong tightens management of fishing vessels, towards responsible and sustainable fishing

On the afternoon of October 28, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Le Trong Yen chaired an urgent meeting to deploy tasks to combat illegal fishing (IUU) after an online meeting with the National Steering Committee, aiming to tighten management, handle violations and move towards sustainable fisheries.

Overview of the meeting

According to the leader of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, immediately after the 15th meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing, departments, branches, especially the People's Committees of communes, wards, and areas with fishing vessels, along with the functional forces of the province, urgently took action to deploy the task.

Thereby, the units have seriously and resolutely deployed the tasks, mobilized maximum resources to overcome shortcomings and limitations, and at the same time improved the indicators on combating IUU fishing. The current focus of work is to review and inventory fishing vessels; carry out inspections, issue fishing licenses and verify and handle cases of fishing vessels losing connection to the vessel monitoring system (VMS) from 2024 to present.

Phan Thiet fishermen carry out import and export procedures at the Phan Thiet Fishing Port Representative Office.

During the past week, there were no new incidents of fishing vessels losing VMS connection at sea and not reporting back to shore. Currently, the backlog of work that needs to be focused on is handling fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate...

At the meeting, representatives of some coastal communes and wards said that the management of fishing vessels is still facing difficulties due to the large number of vessels that have not yet re-registered their fishing licenses and have not renewed their inspections. The main reason is that some ship owners have sold their vessels but have not completed the transfer procedures, or the ship owners are not currently present in the locality.

In that situation, members of the Provincial IUU Steering Committee and representatives of localities affirmed their determination to continue to deploy the peak of support and guidance for fishermen to complete the procedures for deregistration, inspection, and re-issuance of fishing licenses for expired fishing vessels, striving to complete before October 30, 2025. At the same time, functional forces will strengthen inspection and strictly handle violations of regulations on fishing.

Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Le Trong Yen directed at the meeting

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Le Trong Yen acknowledged and commended the sense of responsibility, drastic and creative approach of the members of the IUU Steering Committee and coastal localities in the past time.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Trong Yen emphasized the need to continue promoting high determination to develop fisheries and aquaculture in a modern and sustainable direction; abandon the mindset of "if you can't manage it, then ban it", and ensure strict compliance with international and European Union regulations on combating illegal fishing.

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Sectors and localities focus on synchronously implementing solutions to control, register and inspect fishing vessels; at the same time, build policies to support the livelihoods of fishermen, especially those who do not meet the conditions for near-shore fishing, in accordance with the Prime Minister 's direction.

Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Le Trong Yen

Border guards actively patrol and control at sea

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Trong Yen assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate with localities to review and complete the scenario according to the Central Government's instructions, proactively preparing to welcome the European Commission (EC) delegation to Vietnam for the 5th working session. At the same time, the Border Guard and Fisheries Surveillance forces were required to strengthen strict control of fishing vessels, resolutely not allowing unqualified vessels to go to sea. Localities continued to promote propaganda and instruct fishermen to comply with regulations, not to violate foreign waters; encourage the development of near-shore aquaculture, associated with resource protection and sustainable development of the fisheries industry.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/lam-dong-siet-chat-quan-ly-tau-ca-huong-toi-nghe-ca-co-trach-nhiem-va-ben-vung-398466.html