Strengthening management of high-risk fishing vessels to prevent violations of foreign waters

BTO-Implementing the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang at the preliminary conference of the National Steering Committee on IUU, the Provincial People's Committee has directed the review, compilation of lists, and increased monitoring of fishing vessels at risk of violating foreign waters.

Accordingly, agencies, units and localities have identified 173 fishing vessels at risk of violating foreign waters, including: Tuy Phong district 13 vessels; Phan Thiet city 18 vessels; Ham Thuan Nam district 2 vessels; La Gi town 48 vessels; Ham Tan district 7 vessels and Phu Quy district 85 vessels. In order to strengthen management, control and close supervision of high-risk fishing vessels, promptly prevent early and from a distance, and resolutely not let fishing vessels of Binh Thuan province violate foreign waters, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has directed a number of key tasks.

Request agencies, units, localities, especially grassroots authorities (district and commune levels) to continue to promote propaganda, dissemination and education of the law, and require ship owners and captains to sign a commitment not to violate foreign waters. Promote the role of grassroots associations, unions and religious organizations to actively participate in propaganda, grasp the situation and monitor high-risk subjects (including fishing vessels, captains and workers on fishing vessels). Mobilize people to report suspicious cases to proactively prevent them in a timely manner. Assign responsibility to the People's Committees of coastal districts, towns and cities to direct commune-level authorities and functional forces in the area to strictly manage fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters. Assign cadres, soldiers, party members and members of grassroots associations and unions to be in charge of, monitor, regularly contact and grasp information on the activities of fishing vessels and subjects showing signs of violation.

Fishing boats in Binh Thuan waters.

In addition, the functional forces are required to ensure that fishing vessels meet the conditions for operation (registration, inspection, fishing license, maintaining VMS equipment signals, etc.) before allowing them to leave the port for fishing. If fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for operation are allowed to leave the port for fishing activities, the head must be responsible to the Provincial People's Committee. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development directs the Fisheries Sub-Department and the Monitoring Team at the Provincial Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center to monitor and supervise 100% of fishing vessels operating at sea. Promptly warn and handle when detecting fishing vessels losing VMS connection, crossing the maritime boundary; coordinate with provinces and maritime law enforcement forces to inspect, control and handle fishing vessels operating outside the province, fishing vessels losing connection in adjacent sea areas. In addition, make a list of fishing vessels that repeatedly lose VMS connection, send it to functional forces and local authorities to work with ship owners and captains to verify and handle 100% of violations.

Strengthen inspection and control of provincial fishing vessels operating at sea.

Request the Provincial Border Guard Command to direct units and coastal border forces to strengthen close coordination with maritime law enforcement forces and provincial border control forces to inspect and control provincial fishing vessels operating at sea, especially fishing vessels that regularly operate in waters bordering other countries, fishing vessels under 15m in length that are not subject to VMS installation to closely monitor and supervise, and strictly handle violations.

The provincial police continue to monitor, combat, detect and prosecute organizations and individuals who broker and collude to bring fishing vessels and fishermen to commit illegal violations in foreign waters. Actively coordinate with competent authorities to monitor, detect and handle cases showing signs of sending or carrying tracking devices to bypass authorities and cross maritime boundaries, legalize documents to take advantage of state policies.

Requesting the Heads of agencies, units and localities to seriously implement the direction of the Provincial People's Committee in this official dispatch. If fishing vessels are allowed to illegally violate in foreign waters, the heads of relevant agencies, units and localities shall be responsible before the Provincial People's Committee.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/tang-cuong-quan-ly-tau-ca-nguy-co-cao-khong-de-vi-pham-vung-bien-nuoc-ngoai-119971.html