Ho Chi Minh City: Close to the people to effectively combat IUU fishing

Coffee and breakfast sessions with fishermen have become a channel for real dialogue, helping Ho Chi Minh City overcome difficulties, raise awareness and achieve results in combating IUU fishing.

Ho Chi Minh City, along with the rest of the country, is entering a phase of acceleration in the fight against IUU fishing. It is noteworthy that the city does not only focus on sanctions or records management, but chooses a more flexible and people-friendly approach: sitting down for coffee and breakfast with fishermen to have direct dialogue.

The models of “Morning coffee with fishermen” and “Breakfast with fishermen” are regularly organized and effective in coastal localities in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Le Binh .

The models of “Morning coffee with fishermen” and “Breakfast with fishermen” were initiated in Ho Chi Minh City and maintained in many coastal communes and wards, becoming a real bridge connecting the government and the people. Each program is organized by localities, border guards, and coast guard at flexible locations, which can be at the headquarters of the commune/ward People's Committee, the wharf, or on the coast guard or fisheries surveillance ship... This helps the dialogue take place at the right time, place, and right need.

In those everyday conversations, a series of difficulties that fishermen have long encountered were frankly expressed: fishing licenses are not suitable for traditional occupations, registration documents are still complicated, procedures for transferring ownership of fishing vessels are lengthy, the cost of maintaining voyage monitoring equipment is high, fishing logs are prone to errors if not guided...

This direct dialogue helps officials understand correctly and fully the bottlenecks that administrative documents sometimes cannot "touch". This is also the basis for the city to adjust its working methods: requesting specialized units to support standardizing records for each ship; reviewing and deleting damaged ships that are no longer able to operate from the system; and providing additional funding and means for grassroots forces. At the same time, the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for Combating IUU also encourages localities to be creative in communication methods, as long as the information reaches each ship owner and each crew member.

This approach is consistent with the direction of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, when the city completed the Steering Committee for IUU Prevention, clearly assigned people and tasks, and required localities to avoid "delays, overlaps, and pushing". The control of fishing vessels is tightened; fishing ports and checkpoints are assigned to firmly grasp the status of vessels entering and leaving; traceability records are strictly monitored; the responsibilities of each level of government are emphasized.

Ho Chi Minh City identifies educating fishermen as the key and foremost task in the fight against IUU fishing. Photo: Duc Dinh .

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Bui Minh Thanh has repeatedly affirmed that the fight against IUU fishing cannot be successful if the government only “reminds from afar”. Mr. Thanh believes that morning coffee sessions or breakfasts with fishermen are a way for officials to listen to the facts, explain promptly and build trust. According to him, when fishermen feel respected and supported, they will be willing to cooperate and voluntarily comply with regulations - the most important thing to maintain fishing discipline.

Furthermore, the “Morning Coffee with Fishermen” and “Breakfast with Fishermen” sessions are also an opportunity for departments, agencies and maritime law enforcement forces to easily detect individuals who lack awareness in complying with IUU regulations. This helps local authorities to promptly encourage, remind and pay more attention, avoiding “fait accompli” happening.

Since the model was deployed, Ho Chi Minh City has recorded many positive results. The rate of fishing vessels maintaining connection to voyage monitoring devices has increased significantly, the number of vessels violating unintentionally has decreased sharply, many vessel owners have proactively completed paperwork before each voyage, and coordination between fishermen and functional forces has become more frequent and effective.

The city has also reviewed and will eliminate the inoperable fleet, maintain 100% control of ships entering and leaving the port, thoroughly handle cases of intentional failure to maintain VMS, strengthen inspections, including cases that are brought to criminal prosecution. Notably, this year, Ho Chi Minh City has not had any cases of fishing vessels or crew members being detained by foreign countries - a result that clearly reflects the change in awareness and behavior of the fishing community.

These changes show that Ho Chi Minh City is on the right track in combating IUU fishing: being both resolute in management and flexible in approach, creating consensus instead of mere pressure.

Thanks to the close connection between the government and maritime law enforcement forces, the fight against IUU fishing in Ho Chi Minh City has been effectively implemented and its role has been clearly promoted. Photo: Duc Dinh .

The models of “Morning Coffee with Fishermen” and “Breakfast with Fishermen” are therefore not only a propaganda activity, but also a symbol of the spirit of “accompanying the people” in the process of implementing policies. It is also the foundation for Ho Chi Minh City to move towards the goal of no longer violating IUU, protecting sustainable livelihoods for fishermen and contributing to the common effort to develop Vietnamese seafood sustainably, responsibly and maintain prestige in the international market.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/tphcm-gan-dan-de-chong-khai-thac-iuu-hieu-qua-d782904.html