Determined to lift the "yellow card" for sustainable fisheries.

In Ca Mau, the Border Guard and local fishermen are united in their determination to combat IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, aiming to help lift the "yellow card" warning, link fishing with the conservation of aquatic resources, and move towards sustainable fisheries.

• The Prime Minister has requested a thorough rectification of shortcomings in combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing.
• Border Guard Squadron 2 launches intensive campaign to crack down on IUU violations.

With over 310 km of coastline and a fleet of more than 5,000 vessels, Ca Mau possesses significant potential for marine economic development . However, the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese fisheries is a major obstacle to the province's fishing industry. Persistently addressing this bottleneck is not only crucial for promoting trade and expanding export markets, but also a responsibility to conserve marine resources and build a transparent fishing industry for the future.

Border guards accompany fishermen as they venture out to sea in accordance with the law.

Ca Mau currently has 14 border guard posts and 2 border guard naval squadrons along its maritime border, which are the core forces ensuring security and order and directly carrying out the task of preventing and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated ( IUU ) fishing.

Officers from the Gành Hào Border Guard Station are raising awareness among fishermen in Gành Hào commune about preventing and combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing.

Propaganda work has been identified as a continuous task by the units. Lieutenant Colonel Pham Thanh Nhan, Political Officer of Ganh Hao Border Guard Station, shared: “We are stepping up propaganda to help fishermen understand the Party and State's policies, regulations related to IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing), especially the practical benefits of having the 'yellow card' lifted. From there, we aim to awaken in fishermen a spirit of self-awareness in protecting aquatic resources and engaging in responsible fishing.”

Alongside the awareness campaigns, control at seaports has been tightened absolutely. Major Le Vu Khanh, Deputy Head of Operations at Song Doc Border Guard Station, affirmed: “The unit strictly checks legal documents and vessel tracking systems (VMS) for fishing vessels entering and leaving the seaport. Any vessel that does not meet the requirements will be resolutely prevented from going out to sea.”

Tightening control over vessels, especially offshore fishing vessels, aims to thoroughly prevent illegal fishing in foreign waters, thereby contributing to the removal of the IUU "yellow card".

Officers from the Song Doc Border Guard Station inspect the vessel tracking device on a fisherman's fishing boat.

A shift in awareness towards responsible and sustainable fisheries.

Removing the "yellow card" is no longer an administrative requirement, but has become a tangible benefit for every fisherman. Because, by complying with regulations, local seafood can "open the door" to reach the world market, and only then can fishermen prosper from the sea.

Mr. Huynh Van Long (Hamlet 1, Ganh Hao Commune), an experienced fisherman who owns two fishing vessels over 15 meters long and regularly operates for extended periods at sea, shared: “Before the ships depart, border guards carefully examine the documents and equipment. These devices help accurately determine the ships' location at sea. Furthermore, with regular patrols by Navy ships, we fishermen feel secure staying at sea and avoid illegal fishing in foreign waters.”

Sharing the same determination to have the IUU "yellow card" lifted, Mr. Dang Quoc Thuy (Ganh Hao commune) said that thanks to the support of border guards, he has a clear understanding of the offshore and adjacent sea areas to avoid violations.

“The monitoring equipment is always on 24/7, and the fishing log is meticulously recorded for each net haul. We tell each other that we must address the EC’s recommendations in order to sustain our livelihoods in the long term and preserve marine resources for future generations,” Thuy confided.

Fishing is a hereditary profession. The determination to combat IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing is not only aimed at lifting the "yellow card," but more importantly, at building a safe, responsible, and sustainable fishing industry to conserve natural resources for future generations, ensuring that fishing trips are always bountiful, and that the lives of people in the Ca Mau coastal region remain prosperous.

Thuy Lien - Duy Phong

Source: https://baocamau.vn/quyet-tam-go-the-vang-vi-nghe-ca-ben-vung-a128649.html