Strengthening the fight against IUU fishing.

In order to raise awareness among fishermen about complying with the law in seafood exploitation, aiming to help the whole country lift the European Commission's (EC) "Yellow Card," our province, together with other coastal provinces, is focusing on implementing many synchronized solutions to prevent fishing vessels from violating regulations on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in foreign waters and other illegal fishing activities.

According to the Fisheries Sub-Department, there are currently a total of 2,304 fishing vessels in the province, including 858 vessels 15 meters or longer, with over 170 maritime solidarity groups and 2 established fishing unions; approximately 17,900 laborers are employed on fishing vessels (of which seasonal laborers account for 23%). The province currently has 4 fishing ports (including 2 Type II ports: Ca Na, Ninh Chu; 2 Type III ports: Dong Hai, My Tan); and 3 storm shelter areas (including 2 regional storm shelter areas: Ca Na, Ninh Chu; and 1 provincial storm shelter area: Cua Song Cai). In order to promptly prevent violations in marine fishing, functional forces have organized many inspections, checks, and controls of fishing activities, fishing ports, and fishing wharves; focusing on combating IUU fishing. Regarding the management of fishing vessels and fishing vessel crews, and the collection, preservation, and transportation of harvested seafood.

Officers and soldiers of the Dong Hai Border Guard Station educate fishermen on complying with legal regulations in seafood exploitation activities. Photo: My Dung

Fisherman Nguyen Van Phong, from Phuoc Dinh commune (Thuan Nam district), owner of fishing vessel NT 90409 TS, who fishes offshore, said: "Strictly adhering to regulations on fishing at sea, we diligently record and submit our fishing logs to the relevant authorities for inspection; we do not violate the sovereignty of foreign waters and do not disconnect the vessel tracking device. When fishing in distant waters, we usually go in groups of about 10 vessels, so if there is a mechanical failure or any problems at sea, we can promptly support each other."

Implementing solutions to combat IUU fishing according to the Provincial People's Committee's Plan on the implementation of IUU fishing prevention and control tasks until 2025 in the province, functional forces have deployed many solutions including propaganda, monitoring fishing vessels, and tracing the origin of seafood from fishing. To date, the entire province has issued 849 food safety certificates for seafood that are required to be certified, reaching 98.95%; issued 856 fishing licenses for offshore fishing vessels; issued 522 licenses for inshore fishing vessels and 909 for coastal fishing vessels. The work of marking fishing vessels has been carried out on 2,227 vessels, including: 858 vessels 15m or longer (100%), 460 vessels from 12 to under 15m (86%), and 909 vessels under 12m (100%). Currently, the entire province has 851 out of 852 fishing vessels in operation equipped with vessel tracking devices (reaching 99.8%). In implementing regulations on traceability of harvested seafood, from the beginning of 2023 to the present, over 10,000 fishing vessel arrivals and departures have been recorded, with a total unloaded product of 7,200 tons; simultaneously, the results of fishing vessel inspections and monitoring data on seafood unloaded at ports have been updated in the national database; and records of fishing vessels arriving at and departing from ports have been recorded and stored promptly and completely.

Fishermen in Ca Na (Thuan Nam) are harvesting seafood.

Mr. Tran Thai Anh Tuan, Head of Ninh Chu Port, said: According to the inspection procedure, one hour before a vessel docks, the vessel owner and captain inform the port's duty force of the arrival time. After the vessel docks, the vessel owner presents the logbook and vessel's documents for inspection and coordination with the Fisheries Sub-Department to confirm the vessel's arrival information and cargo volume. Through inspections, most vessel owners and fishermen have complied well with regulations on preventing and combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing. To date, no Ninh Thuan fishing vessel has been apprehended or returned for fishing in foreign waters.

According to the Fisheries Sub-Department, in the coming period, in order to implement law enforcement tasks and focus on urgent and key tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing to help lift the EC's "Yellow Card" warning, the province will continue to strengthen inspection and control at seaports, resolutely preventing fishing vessels from participating in fishing activities if they have not installed vessel tracking devices, have not been marked, or have not been granted fishing licenses... Prevent fishing vessels showing signs of violating permitted boundaries at sea from engaging in illegal fishing. Strictly handle cases of IUU violations, especially cases where fishing vessels operate but intentionally do not install or install but do not maintain connection of vessel tracking devices; violate foreign waters to fish, fish within expired fishing licenses, or have not completed inspection and control procedures at ports. Conduct a review and compile a list of fishing vessels that have not installed vessel monitoring systems (VMS); Organize the effective operation and use of the fishing vessel monitoring system to track and monitor fishing vessels operating at sea. Implement regulations correctly regarding the control of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, and control the volume of seafood unloaded at ports to ensure supply chain integrity; carry out traceability of harvested seafood according to regulations, with verification and comparison of data from fishing logs, the national fisheries database VNFishbase, and the fishing vessel tracking system.

Mr. Tuan

Source: http://baoninhthuan.com.vn/news/144202p25c151/tang-cuong-chong-khai-thac-iuu.htm