Quang Tri focuses on solving difficult problems, urgently and resolutely removing the IUU yellow card

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Tri province, as of September 15, 2023, in Quang Tri province, the total number of fishing vessels with the largest length of 6m or more is 764. Of these, 446 are registered, 318 are unregistered; 436/446 fishing vessels are licensed to exploit aquatic resources according to regulations; 442/446 fishing vessels are marked.

In the first 9 months of 2023, Quang Tri province inspected 649 fishing vessels leaving the port and 639 vessels arriving at the port, ensuring the inspection rate according to regulations. During the inspection process, the authorities fined the ship owners for violating the anti-IUU fishing regulations with a fine of 218 million VND.

However, a current difficulty is that the locality is slowly repairing and upgrading Cua Viet Fishing Port (Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province), making it difficult to dock and unload products, affecting the fight against IUU fishing.

Fishing boats in Quang Tri province. Photo: T.Nhat.

In addition, Border Control Stations at the inlets do not have docks and wharves to serve the inspection and control of boats entering and leaving the inlet, which affects the fight against IUU fishing.

In particular, 318 fishing boats with a length of 6-12m have not been registered and licensed for fishing, which is very difficult to handle. Because this group of boats are mainly composite and bamboo hulled boats built by local people to replace damaged bamboo hulled boats, and this is the means of livelihood for many fishermen in the coastal areas, fishing near the shore in Quang Tri province.

Mr. Ha Sy Dong, Permanent Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing, said that to overcome the limitations encountered, Quang Tri proposed that the Central Government support investment in building a new Fisheries Control vessel with sufficient capacity and size to operate against illegal fishing at sea.

In particular, it is necessary to issue a policy of registering fishing vessels for unregistered fishing vessels in Quang Tri province for fishing vessels with lengths from 6m to under 12m by replacing the Certificate of Origin with documents proving the origin of the fishing vessel certified by the local authorities at the commune level.

Source