On the afternoon of May 7th, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to evaluate the work of combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, presided over the meeting.
Comrade Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - co-chaired the meeting. Attendees included leaders from various departments, agencies, units, and localities: Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Hoang Mai town, and Cua Lo town.
IMPORTANT AND URGENT TASK
In implementing the directives on combating IUU fishing from the Standing Committee of the Party Central Committee, the Prime Minister, and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU, the People's Committee of Nghe An province has advised the Provincial People's Council to issue two resolutions specifically supporting the fisheries sector; and issued numerous documents directing relevant departments and localities to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing.
In particular, the Provincial People's Committee requested that departments and localities focus on comprehensively inspecting, reviewing, and accurately determining the number of fishing vessels, strictly managing the group of fishing vessels with "three no's": no registration, no inspection certificate, and no license; and thoroughly dealing with fishing vessels that have lost connection to their vessel tracking devices at sea, and fishing vessels that violate foreign waters...
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province currently has 3,462 fishing vessels, of which 2,565 are required to be registered. As of April 30, 2024, the registration rate for fishing vessels reached 90.37%; fishing licenses reached 95.38%; food safety certificates issued reached 86.18%; vessel inspection reached 78.3%; and the installation of vessel tracking devices reached 96.95%.
The province has four fishing ports, three of which meet the requirements for verifying the origin of seafood. The inspection and monitoring of fishing vessels and seafood production passing through the ports have been carried out by the Port Management Board and inter-agency teams according to established procedures and are becoming increasingly rigorous.
In Nghe An province, 116 vessels/426 instances of losing connection for more than 6 hours at sea, up to 10 days, without reporting their location to shore as required. The number of fishing vessels losing connection for more than 10 days at sea in 2023 was 297, and in the first nearly four months of 2024 it was 81. The number of fishing vessels losing connection for more than 6 months as of April 10, 2024, while operating at sea, is 116.
In 2023, authorities issued administrative penalties in 161 cases with a total fine of 714.5 million VND. In the first four months of 2024, administrative penalties were imposed on 31 individuals/31 vessels with a total fine of 490.3 million VND, and the captain's certificates were revoked for 12 people.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development believes that there are still fishing vessels that do not meet the requirements for fishing operations, but there is no plan for close monitoring and supervision; fishing vessels operate in offshore areas but do not dock at designated fishing ports, instead often docking at unauthorized fishing docks.
The progress in handling violations by agencies and authorities at all levels is still slow. Inspection and monitoring of fishing vessels and catch volumes passing through ports are still sometimes inadequate. Reporting, updating data, archiving, and providing records by agencies are not timely or complete, especially regarding fishing vessel registration data and administrative violation penalties.
Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De requested that departments and localities strengthen the management of the number of fishing vessels, support people in handling procedures, and strictly handle cases of illegal electric fishing...
At the meeting, leaders of localities, sectors, and units reported on the results of implementing tasks to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; they also raised many suggestions and proposals regarding the provision of vessel tracking equipment; investment in expanding and upgrading fishing ports; and support and guidance for fishing vessels operating without proper documentation (e.g., no registration, no inspection, no license, no insurance, no quality control, no reporting, no safety certification ...
EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING THE TASK OF COMBATING IUU FISHING
Concluding the meeting, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung emphasized that combating IUU fishing is an extremely important and urgent task. In recent times, the Central Party Secretariat, the Government, and the Prime Minister have issued numerous directives with the determination to lift the yellow card issued by the European Commission in 2024.
After more than six years of implementing the European Commission's warnings, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee stated that the province's efforts to combat IUU fishing have been successful and achieved some positive results, focusing on three main groups of issues.
Firstly, leadership and guidance have been implemented decisively, with the Provincial People's Committee advising the Provincial People's Council to issue two resolutions; issuing numerous directives, plans, decisions, official letters, and concluding notices; and establishing a task force to inspect activities against IUU fishing.
Secondly, attention has been paid to disseminating information, mobilizing, and persuading fishermen to implement tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing.
Thirdly, initial results show that fishing vessel management has become more effective, from fleet management and monitoring at sea to inspecting fishing vessels entering and leaving fishing ports. Law enforcement has become more rigorous, especially recently; and fishermen's awareness of complying with the law has gradually improved.
Besides the achievements, the head of the Provincial People's Committee acknowledged that there are still many shortcomings, limitations, and difficulties in combating IUU fishing. The progress of inspecting, verifying, and handling fishing vessels that violate regulations by losing connection with their vessel tracking devices is slow and does not meet requirements; the situation of fishing vessels not maintaining vessel tracking devices 24/7 while fishing at sea is still prevalent.
The number of fishing vessels lacking "three essentials" (lacking food safety certifications and vessel tracking devices) remains high. The management and statistical reporting of these "three essentials" by the districts are incomplete. Inspection, monitoring, and statistical reporting of catch through ports, as well as the recording of fishing logs, are also inadequate. The use of illegal fishing gear persists.
Pointing out the causes, Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung stated that some localities have not been decisive enough in their efforts, and the responsibility and role of leaders have not been high enough. The work of mobilizing and educating the people at the grassroots level has not received adequate attention. The inspection and verification of fishing vessels that have lost connection to their vessel tracking devices takes a long time. The awareness of a segment of fishermen in complying with regulations on combating IUU fishing is still low.
To effectively implement the fight against IUU fishing in the coming period and prepare for the 5th meeting with the European Commission's inspection team, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung requested that members of the Steering Committee, leaders of relevant departments, agencies, and localities be more decisive and focused in seriously and effectively implementing Directive 32 of the Central Party Secretariat and Resolution 52 of the Government, as well as other directives from the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
During implementation, the role and responsibility of the leaders should be emphasized; at the same time, organizations and individuals who fail to perform their assigned tasks should be strictly dealt with, while organizations and individuals with good, creative, and effective approaches should be promptly rewarded and encouraged.
The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, acting as the standing agency, to advise on the restructuring of the Provincial Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing before May 15th. The committee will be chaired by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee will be vice-chaired; the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will be the acting vice-chair; and the heads of relevant departments and the Chairmen of the People's Committees of the districts will be members.
In addition, implement the tasks outlined in Official Letter No. 2980 dated April 24, 2024, from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and submit a report before May 20, 2024.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination with the Provincial People's Committee Office, advised on the issuance of the Provincial Party Standing Committee's Plan to implement Directive No. 32 of the Central Party Secretariat; the Provincial People's Committee's Plan to implement Government Resolution No. 52; and the Plan for receiving and working with the 5th EC Inspection Team.
The presiding authority, in coordination with the Border Guard Command and local authorities, must urgently review all fishing vessel data, including vessels whose registrations have been cancelled; ensuring that the data is accurate, consistent, and unified with the data on the national VNFishbase system. Fishing vessel data must include complete information on the vessel's status, reasons for cancellation, etc.
Compile a list of vessels without fishing licenses, vessels with expired registration, and vessels without vessel tracking devices; provide this list to the People's Committees of districts/towns and coastal border guard posts/stations to guide vessel owners in carrying out the necessary procedures and to promptly handle violations.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development directs the Fisheries Sub-Department to organize 24/7 duty shifts to effectively utilize the fishing vessel monitoring system to closely manage fishing vessel activities at sea. A list of fishing vessels that have lost connection to their vessel tracking devices will be provided to the Provincial Border Guard Command and the People's Committees of districts for investigation, verification, and decisive handling of violations in accordance with regulations.
In addition, the Fisheries Port Management Board and the Inter-agency Task Force are directed to strictly and correctly implement regulations on inspecting and controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, monitoring 100% of catch on-site; and inspecting and controlling 100% of fishing vessels 24 meters or longer that dock at the port. They are also tasked with deploying and guiding fishermen and businesses to implement electronic traceability of harvested seafood; and fully updating data to national databases and administrative violation penalty databases on the Fisheries Department's system.
Regarding the Provincial Border Guard Command, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung assigned them to take the lead in accelerating the investigation, verification, and consolidation of dossiers to strictly handle, in accordance with regulations, fishing vessels that have lost connection with their vessel tracking devices from January 25, 2024, to the present.
On the other hand, instruct border guard stations and posts to strengthen inspection and control of fishing vessels entering and leaving the estuary, ensuring that 100% of fishing vessels are marked and numbered according to regulations. For fishing vessels that do not meet the operating requirements, prohibit them from leaving the estuary to fish, and require the vessel owners to leave their fishing gear and equipment on board.
Fully update the results of administrative penalties for violations in the field of combating IUU fishing into the Administrative Penalty Software System as prescribed; Direct coastal border guard stations to closely coordinate with the fishing port management board to educate fishing vessel owners on using the software to complete procedures for entering and exiting waterways for fishing vessels.
For coastal localities, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung requested that the content and requirements of Directive No. 32 of the Central Party Secretariat be thoroughly disseminated to officials, Party members, and all segments of the population, especially fishermen; the forms of communication must be diverse, visual, and engaging. Localities must take decisive action and encourage ship owners to strictly comply with the regulations.
The local authorities are responsible for updating the list of "three-no" fishing vessels with a maximum length of 6 meters or more; organizing meetings with vessel owners who do not meet the requirements for participating in fisheries to guide them through the necessary procedures; and keeping track of the mooring locations of these fishing vessels. After May 20, 2024, any locality where "three-no" fishing vessels emerge will hold the Chairman of the People's Committee of that locality accountable to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.
Coastal districts are focusing resources and establishing task forces to thoroughly review, inspect, verify, and penalize fishing vessels that have lost their vessel tracking system connection for more than 10 days at sea without returning to shore; providing documentation to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for updating the software system and compiling reports. They are also gradually researching solutions to create livelihoods to support fishermen and protect their legitimate rights and interests.
In addition, the People's Committees of communes and wards are directed to assign officials to thoroughly understand the local area and the number of fishing vessels; to clearly understand and update the daily status of fishing vessels that do not meet the requirements for participating in fisheries activities, and to keep records of fishing vessels for management purposes; and to compile statistics on the volume of seafood unloaded at private fishing ports, ensuring an increase in the percentage of seafood under monitoring.
The head of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection Department to coordinate with the Border Guard force to strengthen patrol and control activities at sea and estuaries, especially to establish inter-agency teams to strictly handle IUU fishing activities in the waters of Nghe An province.
For media outlets, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested them to focus on organizing a high-intensity propaganda campaign on combating IUU fishing, especially Directive No. 32 of the Party Central Committee; Resolution No. 52 of the Government; prioritizing broadcast time and capacity suitable for the majority of fishermen.
To prepare for the working session with the European Commission's inspection team scheduled for the end of May, Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung requested that departments, agencies, units, and localities focus resources, arrange locations, assign staff with thorough professional expertise, report and answer the team's requests; and organize, update data consistently, and archive records to serve the inspection team.
Source
Comment (0)