Looking back at the peak month of combating IUU: [Part 3] Synchronizing fisheries infrastructure

The Vice Chairman of Ha Tinh province has just announced the opening of Cua Nhuong fishing port, creating a turning point that contributes to the synchronization of fishing infrastructure, helping fishermen to easily go out to sea and maintain their livelihoods.

In 2019, the Prime Minister issued a decision on investing in projects to build and upgrade fisheries logistics service facilities and projects to restore and regenerate aquatic ecosystems and fishery resources in four central provinces using compensation funds from Formosa Hung Nghiep Steel Company Limited.

The announcement of the opening of Cua Nhuong fishing port marks a turning point, contributing to the synchronization of fishing infrastructure and helping fishermen to venture out to sea more easily. Photo: Hung Phuc.

According to this decision, the "Cua Nhuong Fishing Port Construction Investment Project" in Cam Xuyen district is considered a project that needs to be implemented quickly to ensure sustainable development of the local fisheries sector. However, due to various objective and subjective reasons, the project has been delayed and its implementation timeline has been repeatedly adjusted.

By May 2023, after the Ha Tinh Provincial Agricultural and Rural Development Project Management Board was restructured, its leadership methods were reformed, and the Cua Nhuong fishing port project was able to request an adjustment to its implementation period, extending it to December 31, 2024.

According to the investor, the implementation of the fisheries logistics project faced many unforeseen difficulties. For example, investment procedures took many months, and construction conditions were unfavorable. However, thanks to the close attention and guidance from central ministries and agencies, the leadership of Ha Tinh province, and the efforts and determination in investment preparation, construction organization, and timely encouragement of contractors, the project was completed ahead of schedule, much to the delight of the relevant departments and fishermen.

The fishing port's operation facilitates the control of vessels entering and leaving the port, and the traceability of seafood. Photo: Hung Phuc.

Mr. Than Quoc Te, Deputy Director in charge of the Ha Tinh Fisheries Port Management Board, assessed that the completion of the Cua Nhuong fishing port project within 12 months is highly commendable. This is because, during a period when the whole country is striving to remove the European Commission's (EC) IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing "yellow card," the sooner the fisheries infrastructure in the area is synchronized, the easier it will be for relevant authorities to control the entry and exit of vessels and trace the origin of seafood. In particular, it creates a sufficiently wide channel for fishing vessels to anchor, buy and sell seafood, and ensures safety during the rainy and stormy season.

Nguyen Van Hoang, a boat owner from Thien Cam commune and one of the fishing vessels over 15 meters long that regularly unload at Cua Nhuong port, shared that previously, his boat had to anchor 4-5 nautical miles from the fishing dock, then hire smaller boats to transfer seafood ashore for sale, which was both costly and affected product quality. After Cua Nhuong port became operational, his boat only needed to wait for the tide to come ashore to sell seafood, making things much more convenient.

The project has a total investment of 280 billion VND. Photo: Hung Phuc.

“Of course, we are not 100% satisfied yet, because the section of the Rào Cái - Gia Hội waterway (managed by the Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterways Administration) is silting up, so fishing vessels over 12 meters in length still depend on the tides to enter and exit the port. We hope the State will invest in dredging this section of the waterway to maximize the effectiveness of the previous investment in Cửa Nhượng port,” fisherman Hoàng said.

In accordance with the Fisheries Law, Mr. Ho Huy Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, recently signed and issued Decision No. 2893/QD-UBND announcing the opening of Cua Nhuong fishing port in Thien Cam commune.

Accordingly, the fishing port is scheduled to begin operations in November 2025. Cua Nhuong Fishing Port is managed by the Ha Tinh Fishing Port and Storm Shelter Management Board. It is a type 2 fishing port, with a wharf length of 270 m, including a 150 m berth for 400CV vessels and a 120 m berth for vessels under 150CV; the total land area of ​​the port is over 5.4 hectares, and the total water area is 11.6 hectares; the channel depth is -4 m, the channel width is 40 m, the water depth for vessel mooring is -4 m, and the depth in front of the wharf is -4 m.

Cua Nhuong fishing port has the capacity to receive vessels with a power of up to 400 horsepower, with a docking capacity of 100 vessels per day. Photo: Hung Phuc.

According to the design, Cua Nhuong fishing port is capable of receiving vessels with a capacity of up to 400 horsepower, with a docking capacity of 100 vessels per day and a cargo volume of 16,000 tons of seafood per year. The total investment is 280 billion VND.

The announcement of the port's opening is the final step for the relevant departments to focus on the efficient operation of the project, contributing to the completion of the fishing port system in Ha Tinh province in accordance with the Government-approved plan, creating the most favorable conditions for fishermen to confidently go out to sea and join hands with the whole country to soon remove the IUU "yellow card".

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nhin-lai-thang-cao-diem-chong-iuu-bai-3-dong-bo-ha-tang-nghe-ca-d788629.html