Border guards "staying in the village" - Part 2: Putting policies into practice

Colonel Hoang Minh Hung, Commander of the City Border Guard, presented the national flag and distributed propaganda leaflets to fishermen.

Shoulder to shoulder "storm and storm"

I met Mr. Nguyen Khai, a fisherman from Quang Cong commune (Quang Dien), a typical example of providing accurate and timely information, helping the Border Guard to effectively capture and handle illegal fishing boats (awarded a medal by the Border Guard Command for border security and sovereignty), one afternoon nearly 6 years ago, at Border Guard Squadron 2.

I waited for the force escorting the two large fishing boats operating trawlers and the crew members who had just been arrested and were being escorted by the Border Guard Squadron 2 ship, to learn more about the burning issue of trawlers. Mr. Khai also waited, to witness it directly and return to his locality to spread the joy.

That day, also from the report of Mr. Khai and fishermen of Quang Cong; receiving orders from the Command, the ship of the Border Guard Squadron 2 set out to carry out the mission. Leaving the port at 1:00 p.m. after 12 hours of hardship at sea, it was not until 1:00 a.m. the next morning, when everyone was fast asleep, that the officers and soldiers of the Border Guard Squadron 2 were able to bring the ship and the violators back, to proceed with the procedures, records, and handling according to the provisions of the law.

Looking at the sweat-soaked uniforms and the wind, Mr. Khai was moved: "You guys "bear the storm, bear the storm", to eliminate the trawling, protect the fishermen's property, protect aquatic resources and the peace of the fishing grounds, even facing dangers to health and life". In the story of the fishermen who have been in pain and helpless many times because their fishing gear, sweat and tears of their families were destroyed by trawling ships, there is a feeling of gratitude for the border guards. Among them, Colonel Nguyen Van Dung, Head of the Drug and Crime Prevention Department of the Provincial Border Guard Command (now the city) is one of the soldiers that Mr. Khai respects the most.

Mr. Hoang Hai Minh, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee (left) during a sea patrol trip

In 2018, when the trawling epidemic was rampant and painfully rampant along the coast of Thua Thien Hue province (now Hue city). Many large-capacity fishing boats from other provinces poured in to illegally trawl, destroying the environment and benthic organisms, unbalancing the marine ecosystem, depleting aquatic resources, harming aquatic species that need to be protected; it was a threat to the fishing community fishing near the shore. Investing in fishing gear of tens of millions of dong, just dropped into the sea to "catch" fish, unexpectedly it was "swept" by trawling boats, and torn to pieces. In just a split second, all their assets were lost. Some families had their fishing gear repeatedly stolen, had to quit their jobs, and were still in debt.

Fishermen have sent a "cry for help" to the authorities, and at the same time have made urgent comments at meetings with voters at all levels. In the face of that "hot" situation, the Provincial People's Committee has a policy, and at the same time assigned the Border Guard as the main and core force (replacing the Fisheries Sub-Department) to make efforts to "solve" the problem of dredging, "return" peace to coastal waters, so that fishermen can work and live in peace.

Carrying on their shoulders a great responsibility, the border guards increased coastal patrols, patrols at sea, "sticking" to fishermen, mobilizing fishermen to be "eyes and ears"; at the same time, regardless of time and space, they were ready to launch when receiving reports from fishermen and people. Each soldier, each unit was ready to make 200 - 300% effort to complete the tasks assigned by the Provincial People's Committee and the people. During one time, directly commanding the task of patrolling at sea, arresting ships operating illegally on trawlers, the violators fiercely resisted, Colonel Nguyen Van Dung (at that time Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Head of the Department of Drug and Crime Prevention) was seriously injured, had a broken rib, and had to be hospitalized at Hue Central Hospital for nearly a month. Of which, nearly half of the time had to be in the special treatment room for seriously ill patients. The injury left behind sequelae (to this day he still hurts when the weather changes), but right after being discharged from the hospital, Mr. Dung and his teammates continued to confidently take on difficult journeys on the waves.

Officers and soldiers of Border Guard Squadron 2 before departing to carry out their mission.

Devoting all their efforts and hearts to the "campaign" to carry out the right policy, meeting the burning expectations of fishermen and people, from 2018 until now, there have been "countless" sorties from the port of Border Guard Squadron 2, most of which were sorties to perform missions in the dead of night.

Lieutenant Colonel Cao Quoc Giang, Political Commissar , and Captain Nguyen Quang Thanh, Commander of the Border Guard Squadron 2, said: Most of the illegal trawling vessels come from Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai provinces, and usually operate at peak times from 11pm to 3am. Violators know that if caught, they will be severely punished for administrative violations, so they deliberately use "tricks" while fleeing, preventing the ships of the authorities from coming alongside or are ready to use prepared weapons (bottles, bamboo sticks, rocks, etc.) to fiercely resist.

“However, in each sortie, with a brave spirit and strong will, officers and soldiers have united and coordinated well, creating strength to overcome all difficulties and dangers, and successfully completed the mission” - Captain Nguyen Quang Thanh shared. From 2018 to present, the Border Guard force has captured and handled nearly 60 ships operating illegally on the coastal waters of Hue city; imposed administrative fines of more than 3 billion VND; and at the same time notified the competent authorities and local governments to educate and manage violators and ships.

At the conference summarizing the work of preventing and combating illegal trawling by ships, Mr. Hoang Hai Minh, Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee, highly appreciated the results and achievements of the Border Guard force. Over time, the number of illegal trawling by ships has decreased sharply. Now, there is no longer a situation where fishermen have to "cry for help". Instead, there is peace and happiness in fishing villages.

Remembering the excited and happy smile of Mr. Do Mai, Head of the Front Committee of Village 6, Vinh Thanh Commune, also a fisherman, when he said: "I am grateful to the Border Guard for eliminating the trawling problem and "returning" a peaceful life to the fishermen, I "feel" more and more that you are truly the ones who "bear the storm and the storm", so that the fishermen can rest assured to stick to the sea to do business and develop the economy.

Minutes of high concentration in capturing fishing boats operating illegal trawlers

To have no more worries on the air

“Following” the patrol and control trip in the waters of Thua Thien Hue (now Hue city) organized by the Provincial People's Committee at the end of May 2023, what I remember in my mind is the times when the border guard ship docked alongside the fishing boat, so that the working group could visit, encourage, present national flags, distribute leaflets and especially propagate about preventing and combating IUU fishing (illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities), which is a burning issue in the fisheries industry today.

Perhaps the meeting in the vast ocean always makes people feel closer and more intimate, so the genuine smiles always shine on the sun-tanned and wind-tanned faces of fishermen. The fishermen are happy and excited to receive the national flag and meaningful gifts from Mr. Hoang Hai Minh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Colonel Hoang Minh Hung, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Commander of the Provincial Border Guard.

Mixed in with the sound of the waves are propaganda and whispers reminding people to strictly follow regulations during the exploitation process. Because IUU fishing is a major threat to the marine ecosystem and the sustainability of fisheries; depleting aquatic resources; directly affecting the livelihoods, incomes, and lives of current and future fishermen.

Rescue fishermen in distress at sea

Sanctions against IUU fishing in Vietnam and other countries are increasingly tough and strict, including fines, revocation of fishing licenses, confiscation and destruction of violating equipment... In particular, the working group sent a strong message to fishermen, saying that they need to promote their role as the main subject in joining hands to make efforts to remove the "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood.

According to Colonel Hoang Minh Hung: As one of the core forces in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and preventing and combating trawlers from illegally fishing in the city's waters, in recent times, together with relevant levels, sectors, units and local Party committees and authorities, the Border Guard has deployed many effective measures; strengthened the direction of units on the sea border to actively coordinate with the fisheries sector and local Party committees and authorities of communes, wards and towns to organize propaganda for fishermen to comply with the provisions of the law on fishing.

“The Border Guard force has promoted the application of information technology and digital platforms to fishing boat owners and fishermen in the area; at the same time, it has strengthened measures to inspect and control people and vehicles entering and exiting seaports, organized patrols at sea, promptly detected, arrested and handled trawlers illegally fishing in the waters of Hue city and stepped up the fight against IUU fishing. Therefore, up to now, in the province, there have been no cases of fishing boats violating foreign waters to illegally exploit seafood being arrested and handled,” said Colonel Nguyen Van Dung, Head of the Department of Drug and Crime Prevention and Control.

Accompanying the people in border areas is "skillful mass mobilization" so that people unanimously implement policies and guidelines.

People in Thuan An ward, Hai Duong commune (Hue city), Phu Thuan and Phu Hai communes (Phu Vang district) have become familiar with the image of border guards at Thuan An port border post (a bright spot in the Border Guard force that has done a good job of promoting IUU) over the years, "going to every alley, knocking on every door" to promote and help, support, and accompany both spiritually and materially the disadvantaged fishing households.

“In addition to actively coordinating with local authorities and functional agencies, strengthening propaganda activities and widely disseminating the law to local people through many forms and methods, we regularly inform fishermen about the situation of fishing vessels (from other provinces) violating regulations on IUU fishing in foreign waters being arrested and handled by local authorities to gain experience and raise awareness in the process of fishing. “Slow and steady wins the race”, fishing vessel owners and fishermen in the area have changed their awareness, complied well and written commitments to strictly comply with the law, absolutely not violate; exploit legally and responsibly” - Major Nguyen Duy Phuong, Deputy Head of the Border Guard Station at Thuan An port shared.

Article and photos: Quynh Anh - Ha Le

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/bien-gioi-bien-dao/nhung-nguoi-linh-bien-phong-cam-ban-ky-2-dua-chu-truong-vao-cuoc-song-152164.html