Quang Yen town must create clear changes in maritime area and IUU

On the afternoon of August 31, the working delegation of the Provincial People's Committee led by Mr. Nghiem Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, inspected and surveyed the implementation of the assignment of aquaculture sea areas and management of fishing vessels in Quang Yen town.

According to the report of the People's Committee of Quang Yen town, based on the zoning of the provincial planning sea space, the People's Committee of the town issued Decision No. 184/QD-UBND dated January 10, 2024 approving the Project on developing aquaculture at sea in Quang Yen town; Plan No. 02/PA-UBND dated January 19, 2024 on allocating sea areas to organizations and individuals for aquaculture. According to statistics, the town has a total of 710 households, of which 133 households raise fish and 577 households raise oysters and mussels.

Comrade Nghiem Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee inspected the aquaculture situation in Quang Yen town.

Up to now, the town has received 462 dossiers through the Public Administration Center to conduct appraisal and issue decisions on allocating sea areas to households and individuals who have submitted dossiers. The town People's Committee has issued 3 documents to solicit opinions according to the regulations of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Provincial Police, and the Provincial Military Command. By July 31, 2024, the town People's Committee has issued 164 decisions on allocating sea areas to households and individuals. After the households replace all the foam buoys, the agencies will hand over the decisions and hand over the sea areas in the field. In cases where the sea areas are not assigned, all cages and rafts will have to be dismantled and farming will not be allowed.

The town also has 45 units and enterprises applying for sea area allocation, including 2 seafood companies and 43 cooperatives. In preparing dossiers for granting aquaculture licenses to enterprises and cooperatives, the town has assigned specialized agencies to divide farming areas for each unit (7-8 hectares/unit) and provide guidance on preparing project descriptions and environmental impact assessment reports according to regulations. According to the plan, after basically completing the allocation to individuals, the town will confirm the dossiers for organizations to submit applications for licenses and sea area allocation.

Quang Yen town has a total of 2,322 fishing vessels, but compliance with IUU regulations has not had many positive changes.

Regarding the management of fishing vessels in the area, Quang Yen town has a total of 2,322 vessels, of which 819 are vessels under 6m; 1,097 are vessels from 6 - 12m; 289 are vessels from 12 - 15m; and 117 are vessels from 15m and above. The results of registration and inspection of fishing vessels in the area, from August 2, 2024 (after the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision on the allocation of quotas for granting fishing licenses to fishing vessels with the longest length from 6m to under 15m operating in coastal and offshore areas in the province) up to now, the town has issued 300/995 licenses, reaching 30.2%. The town is striving to complete the issuance of fishing licenses to fishing vessels under the local management authority by the end of September.

Regarding the registration of "3 no" fishing vessels according to Circular No. 06 dated May 6, 2024 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Quang Yen town has a total of 102 vessels. Up to now, the town has notified all vessel owners to submit documents according to regulations and 50 fishing vessels have submitted registration applications. The town has established a team to conduct actual inspections of technical safety of fishing vessels for 19/50 fishing vessels, and it is expected that by the end of October, 100% of fishing vessels will be licensed according to Notice 107 of the Provincial People's Committee.

Comrade Nghiem Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, inspected the implementation of the assignment of aquaculture sea areas and fishing vessel management in Quang Yen town.

After working and inspecting the field, comrade Nghiem Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial People's Committee's working delegation emphasized that although Quang Yen has been involved in implementation, it has not yet made clear changes in IUU work and assigned sea areas in the area.

He suggested that Quang Yen Town should speed up the progress of handing over sea areas to individuals who have fully met the requirements on procedures and documents and implemented the regulations on converting from foam buoys to HDPE plastic buoys. In parallel with handing over sea areas to individuals, the town should speed up the progress of appraisal and handing over sea areas to cooperatives and enterprises in accordance with regulations, ensuring specific inventory results and creating fundamental changes in implementing solutions to strengthen management and sustainable development of aquaculture at sea in Quang Ninh province in 2024, in conjunction with the implementation of Directive No. 13 dated August 10, 2021 of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee on strengthening the management and sustainable development of aquaculture at sea in the province. The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested Quang Yen Town to be more drastic in managing fishing vessels and strengthen coordination with relevant agencies to resolutely handle fishing vessels that violate IUU regulations.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/tx-quang-yen-phai-tao-chuyen-bien-ro-net-trong-giao-khu-vuc-bien-va-iuu-3316720.html