Quang Tri thoroughly prevents IUU violations - Final article: Towards sustainable fisheries

Photo caption — The board to track the activities of fishing vessels at sea is always active at the IUU Control Office (Cua Viet fishing port, Quang Tri ).

Closely monitor unqualified vessels

Up to now, the whole province still has 134 fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate, of which 32 vessels have no means and are completing the deregistration procedures; 102 vessels still exist but are not qualified to go to sea. The localities with the largest number of vessels include: Dong Trach 20 vessels, Nam Gianh 18 vessels, Hoa Trach 17 vessels, Dong Hoi 12 vessels, Cua Viet 5 vessels.

The Quang Tri Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance Department has requested the Commune People's Committee to affix identification plates, seals and assign supervisors, absolutely not allowing fishing vessels that do not meet operating conditions to participate in fishing activities. At the same time, it has requested the Border Guard Stations to strengthen inspections and resolutely not allow the group of violating vessels to leave port.

Mr. Hoang Trung Thong, an expert from the Economic Department of Cua Viet Commune, said that the locality currently has 5 ships that are not qualified to operate; of which, 2 newly purchased ships are waiting for procedures, 1 fishing ship has applied to have its registration removed because it is too old, and the remaining 2 ships are being converted to meet licensing requirements. All are anchored at the wharf and are strictly monitored, and commune officials must take confirmation photos every week and send them to the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control.

Mr. Tran Xuan Tien, Head of the Quang Tri Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance Department, affirmed that the province will resolutely not allow any unqualified fishing vessels to go to sea, in order to ensure compliance with regulations and maintain the results of combating IUU fishing. Localities continue to closely monitor, lock and seal unqualified vessels operating in accordance with regulations; assign officers to monitor and manage regularly, absolutely not allowing vessels to secretly go to sea or carry fishing gear. The list and status of these vessels are also made public on the local information system so that fishermen know and participate in community monitoring.

At the same time, the Quang Tri Fisheries and Fisheries Control Department also requested the competent authorities to step up propaganda work, instruct ship owners to proactively monitor the expiration date of licenses, registrations, and food safety certificates, promptly renew or apply for new ones, to avoid falling into a state of not being qualified to operate. At the same time, it is recommended that the Department of Agriculture and Environment urgently and promptly issue fishing vessel documents according to its authority to ensure that ship owners are qualified to operate according to regulations.

Changing careers in a sustainable way

To quickly remove the IUU yellow card and develop a sustainable fishing industry, Quang Tri province is also promoting job conversion for vessels that are no longer qualified to operate. This is a suitable direction for fishermen in many localities, thereby reducing the pressure on fishing at sea.

Deputy Head of the Quang Tri Fisheries and Fisheries Control Department Le Ngoc Linh said, we are developing a plan and orientation for fishing vessels that have deteriorated, cannot meet safety and technical requirements, or are no longer in need of exploitation, to be supported in carrying out procedures for dismantling, selling vessels, or switching to alternative livelihood models such as: aquaculture, fishing logistics services, community tourism, or labor export.

According to Mr. Le Ngoc Linh, this conversion not only helps reduce pressure on seafood resources, limit the situation of vessels violating regulations, but also creates conditions for people to stabilize their income, contributing to the goal of building a responsible and sustainable fishing industry according to EU requirements and local practices. In fact, in Quang Tri, many fishermen have also converted their profession to aquaculture and have achieved very high economic efficiency.

In Nam Cua Viet commune (Quang Tri), the local government has promoted marine aquaculture with an aquaculture area of over 812 hectares. Most people are oriented to develop aquaculture in a sustainable direction to bring economic value, many households have high income, thereby affirming the clear effectiveness of the process of livelihood transformation associated with the development of the blue marine economy.

Mr. Le Xuan Vuong (village 8, Nam Cua Viet commune, Quang Tri) shared that in the past, his family faced many difficulties due to unstable fishing jobs, high costs while the fishing output was decreasing. Realizing the province's policy on sustainable livelihood conversion, I boldly switched from fishing to aquaculture.

According to Mr. Le Xuan Vuong, in the early days there were many worries, but with technical support and infrastructure created by the locality, he started building shrimp ponds. Up to now, the family's shrimp farming model has provided a stable income, quality output, favorable output, contributing to significantly improving the family economy and becoming a suitable direction in the context of the locality promoting sustainable fisheries development.

Mr. Dang Huy Bang, Head of the Economic Department of Nam Cua Viet Commune (Quang Tri) said that to combat illegal fishing, the locality has actively encouraged fishermen whose fishing boats do not meet the operating conditions to change their jobs to improve their economic life. The commune is currently reviewing the farming area planning. In the immediate future, the focus will be on stabilizing the existing aquaculture area; continuing to develop the 2-3 phase shrimp farming model in a sustainable direction; encouraging the construction of settling ponds for high-tide ponds, ensuring sufficient conditions for intensive farming.

In Phu Trach commune (formerly Quang Dong commune), since 2022, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control of Quang Tri province has also deployed technical support for the model of raising marine fish using HDPE plastic cages to create a sustainable direction for local fishermen. This is the first model of raising cobia at sea in Quang Binh province (formerly) and has brought high economic efficiency. Initially, there were only 6 households, mainly fishermen who caught and exploited aquatic products near the shore but it was not effective. Up to now, the model has had 12 households raising on an area of 5 hectares of near-shore sea surface.

Mr. Cao Minh Thai, one of the first households to change jobs from fishing to raising cobia and grouper at sea in Phu Trach commune (Quang Tri) shared that switching to farming makes fishermen feel less tired and have a more stable income. Every year, households raise 3 crops, each crop from 1,000 - 2,000 cobia and grouper; households with large farms raise 5,000 fish, with an income of 100 - 200 million VND/year.

“Since 2024, farming households in Phu Trach commune have linked up and established the Vung Chua Island Production, Trade and Service Cooperative. Thereby, it has created output links for products and promoted farming of households to become more sustainable and effective. For fishermen who exploit and catch nearshore ineffectively and feel that the sea profession is unstable, this is a suitable direction for economic development,” added Mr. Cao Minh Thai.

Standing Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam suggested that functional forces and localities strengthen the review of activities at fishing ports, develop investment plans, and upgrade infrastructure to meet standards; the agricultural sector needs to have a plan to convert fishermen's livelihoods suitable for each region and each group of subjects.

In addition, for fishing vessels that have documents but are still stuck in procedures, relevant units need to speed up the completion of documents, creating conditions for fishermen to go offshore, develop the economy and protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

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