Looking back at the peak month of combating IUU: [Part 2] Difficulty in tracing the origin of seafood

Sedimentation in port waterways and the lack of synchronized fishing infrastructure are among the limitations that make seafood traceability difficult.

The waterways leading to and from the fishing port are frequently silted up.

In Ha Tinh province, there are currently 3 fishing ports that meet the requirements for combating IUU fishing (traceability of seafood, monitoring catch volume, etc.), however, all are frequently silted up, causing difficulties and obstacles for ships to enter the ports.

Xuan Hoi fishing port is severely silted up. Photo: Thanh Nga.

According to Mr. Than Quoc Te, Deputy Director in charge of the Ha Tinh Fishing Port Management Board, the most challenging issue currently is that the access routes to and from Thach Kim and Xuan Hoi fishing ports, managed by the Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterways Administration, are severely silted up, making it difficult for large ships to dock, unload goods, and anchor to take shelter from storms.

“Xuan Hoi fishing port has four bays, each 128 meters long, but the three inner bays have long been unusable for large vessels, and the outermost bay has been completely filled with sand. As for Thach Kim fishing port, the access channel from the lighthouse to the rocky beach, about 1 km long, is also covered in sand. Large vessels need to wait for the tide to enter and exit; a single mistake could lead to running aground,” Mr. Te shared.

The channel leading to Thach Kim fishing port also needs dredging to ensure the synchronized development of the port area. Photo: Thanh Nga.

Besides the sedimentation of the port's entrance channel, 80% of Ha Tinh's fishing vessels are small, and the fishermen operate for short periods. Therefore, they tend to anchor at traditional docks and coastal areas instead of entering the port, making it difficult for authorities to control, monitor catch volume, and trace the origin of the catch.

Fisherman Ngo Van Hieu, residing in Loc Ha commune and owner of a fishing boat under 15 meters, operating in the Bach Long Vi island area, shared that the Thach Kim fishing port and the waters in front of the port, after being upgraded, now have sufficient depth for fishing boats like his to dock and anchor. However, the channel leading to the Border Guard Station is silted up with sand, making fishermen hesitant to bring their boats into the port, affecting their ability to report catch volumes and submit fishing logs to the port management board.

The task of tracing the origin of seafood is one of the challenges facing Ha Tinh province. Photo: Thanh Nga.

"We hope the government will continue to invest in the dredging project for the Thach Kim fishing port channel to comprehensively improve the efficiency of the entire port area," Mr. Hieu suggested.

Construction of Ky Ninh fishing port needs to begin soon.

To enhance the capacity of fisheries infrastructure, on February 18, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) issued Decision No. 754/QD-BNN-HTQT approving the adjustment of the investment policy for the Sustainable Fisheries Development Project at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, financed by a World Bank loan.

Accordingly, along with six other provinces including Hai Phong, Thai Binh , Thanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, and Kien Giang, Ha Tinh province will benefit from the investment in the construction of Ky Ninh fishing port in Hai Ninh ward. The preliminary total investment for the project across the seven provinces is over 175 million USD (equivalent to over 4,000 billion VND).

One reason is that 80% of the fishermen's boats are small, and they are used to anchoring in coastal areas instead of moving to fishing ports. Photo: Thanh Nga.

“The year 2025 has ended, but the project has not yet been implemented. This leads to many difficulties and shortcomings in implementing traceability and monitoring the catch of fishing vessels operating in the border gate area and surrounding regions. We earnestly hope that the Ministry will pay attention and expedite the construction of the Ky Ninh fishing port project to ensure it meets the requirements of the EC,” emphasized the leader of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ha Tinh province.

During a recent inspection at Thach Kim fishing port, Mr. Ho Huy Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, once again emphasized and requested that departments, agencies, and localities seriously implement the key tasks as directed by the Government; focusing on leadership, direction, and mobilizing resources to implement comprehensive solutions and thoroughly overcome existing shortcomings and limitations in the fight against IUU fishing.

This includes strengthening the dissemination of legal information to fishermen regarding fishing activities and the protection of aquatic resources, which must be done regularly and continuously. Functional forces will continue to patrol and inspect fishing vessels at sea, in estuaries, coastal areas, and fishing ports; resolutely preventing fishing vessels lacking the necessary procedures, documents, and equipment from operating, and strictly handling violations according to regulations. At the same time, they will continue to develop and advise on programs for occupational and livelihood transformation for local people, linked to the conservation, cultivation, exploitation, and sustainable use of aquatic resources in the locality.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nhin-lai-thang-cao-diem-chong-iuu-bai-2-kho-truy-nguon-goc-hai-san-d788627.html