Efforts to prevent IUU fishing

Addressing and resolving the European Commission's recommendations on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is an urgent task for all levels, sectors, forces, and coastal localities. This is also a matter that the Thanh Hoa Provincial Border Guard Command highly values ​​and is resolutely implementing with many comprehensive and effective solutions.

The Hai Hoa Border Guard Station is intensifying patrols and inspections at estuaries and coastal beaches; and is disseminating information and encouraging fishermen and vessel owners to comply with the law.

The provincial Border Guard Command has reinforced personnel at the Command Headquarters and mountain-line units to support coastal units and border control stations in combating IUU fishing. Coastal border guard posts utilize 5 wooden boats and 14 patrol boats to closely monitor and manage vessels entering and leaving river mouths, estuaries, coastal areas, and at sea. At Naval Squadron 2, 5 ships and 4 boats are used for regular coastal patrols and control; coordinating with functional units to closely monitor and manage vessels at sea, promptly preventing and handling fishing vessels violating IUU regulations.

Accordingly, propaganda work is carried out by border guards before, during, and after fishermen leave the harbor to go out to sea to exploit marine resources; the content of the propaganda is very diverse, including direct meetings, conversations, distributing leaflets, and presenting national flags with sacred meaning, arousing a sense of national pride and self-respect, and encouraging fishermen to act for the strategic interests and common goals of the entire nation.

Along with effective propaganda and education , the Border Guard Force continues to comprehensively implement border defense measures; proactively coordinating with functional forces to thoroughly understand the situation, conduct thorough basic investigations, classify, compile statistical records, and closely monitor vessels classified as "high-risk" for violating foreign waters in order to take timely preventive and handling measures. To overcome the difficulties arising from managing a vast sea area with many channels, estuaries, and harbors where vessels can freely pass through and anchor, making control difficult, the Provincial Border Guard Command focuses on breakthroughs to improve the quality of management, patrol, control, and combating illegal activities at sea. They are thoroughly implementing Regulation No. 4968/QyD-BĐBP, dated December 2, 2021, of the Border Guard Command Headquarters on maritime patrol work by border guard posts along the coastal and island areas. According to Regulation No. 3256/QyD-BĐBP, dated August 8, 2022, of the Border Guard Command on the scope, tasks, and border control operations of border control stations along the coastal and island areas, the provincial Border Guard Command proactively reviewed and supplemented plans and strengthened mobile patrol and control teams.

The Provincial Border Guard Command coordinated with the Command of Region 1 Coast Guard to participate in joint patrols in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin between Vietnam and China. In 2024, the Border Guard organized 568 patrols and inspections on rivers, seas, estuaries, and coastal areas, with 2,688 officers and soldiers participating; detecting and handling 112 cases/140 vessels violating regulations in the fisheries sector; warning, reminding, and preventing 57 vessels from departing due to insufficient paperwork and safety equipment. For vessels that do not meet the requirements, the border guard will strengthen forces at all river mouths without control stations, and establish control checkpoints at river mouths. In coordination with relevant agencies and units, a comprehensive review was conducted to complete the licensing of fishing vessels in the area. Strengthen fleet management, organize patrols, inspections, and closely monitor the activities of fishing vessels, promptly detecting and handling violations. For vessels that deliberately fail to comply with legal regulations, resolutely enforce compliance and bring the vessels ashore for sealing, preventing them from operating. Classify and document cases belonging to the "high-risk" group for IUU violations. Timely exchange information, notify, and coordinate with relevant agencies, units, and localities where vessels violate regulations to monitor and supervise, and promptly apply preventive measures, focusing on Sam Son City and the districts of Quang Xuong and Hoang Hoa, which have many fishing vessels operating in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Strictly adhering to the directives of the Provincial Border Guard Command, through professional work, coastal border guard posts have effectively promoted the operation of safe fishing vessel groups and self-managed docks, coordinating the review of registered fishing vessels and laborers. This has enabled timely prevention when detecting organizations or individuals showing signs of organizing fishing vessel operations in foreign waters. As a result, the management and control of fishing vessels, especially those operating without proper permits (3 no's), and the activities of fishing vessels at sea have been closely monitored and controlled. The awareness of law compliance among most fishermen during seafood exploitation has improved; the number of fishing vessel violations has decreased significantly, both in terms of the number of incidents and the number of violating vessels, contributing to maintaining security and safety in the managed sea area.

Text and photos: Tuan Khoa

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/no-luc-ngan-chan-khai-thac-iuu-234663.htm