Bac Lieu 'arriving on every doorstep' to fight IUU exploitation

In recent years, propaganda work against IUU fishing in Bac Lieu has been formed and put into order. Fishermen have clearly understood the law on combating illegal fishing, and since then, they have always fully and diligently complied with it. For any fishing vessel entering or leaving the seaport in Bac Lieu province, fishermen contact Ganh Hao Fishing Port or Nha Mat Seaport Border Guard to submit and check fishing logs and record the output and types of seafood caught.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Lieu province, the locality currently has more than 2,300 fishing boats, including more than 125 boats with engine capacity of 90 horsepower or more fishing offshore, which brings great aquatic value. In addition to the current major change in fishermen's consciousness, the provincial government has also made many efforts in the task of combating illegal fishing.

Mr Nguyen Hoang Xuan, Director of the Department of Fisheries of Bac Lieu province, said that in the first 9 months of 2023, the province always monitors the implementation of tasks, propagates and mobilizes fishermen to comply with the 2017 Fisheries Law and find solutions to combat IUU fishing to direct and assign them to localities under the Government and Central Government. Promote propaganda, training, and dissemination of regulations of the Fisheries Law and its guiding documents. Especially regulations against IUU fishing for the fishing community and relevant organizations and individuals.

In addition, regularly patrol, inspect and control mining activities in sea areas. Make excellent work of managing people and vehicles before entering and exiting the wharf, ensuring that fishing vessels going out to sea have complete documents and technical safety equipment, and installing and maintaining the operation of journey monitoring equipment. Establish a group of safe boats to help and support each other during sea fishing, search and rescue, preventing IUU exploitation - Mr. Xuan informed.

According to records, in handling violations related to seafood exploitation, Bac Lieu province always follows the motto that 100% of violations must be handled according to regulations. At the same time, the violations are made public for general propaganda. In particular, cases of brokering and connecting fishing vessels of Bac Lieu fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters are all investigated, prosecuted and strictly prosecuted by the authorities of Bac Lieu.

Initiate intensive patrol periods, inspections, and controls with coordination between inter-sectoral and inter-provincial authorities and strictly penalise 100% of IUU fishing acts according to regulations. Verify and handle 100% of fishing vessels that do not maintain VMS device connection according to regulations. The strength of the campaign against illegal IUU fishing in Bac Lieu province is also the building of a legal framework system.

Mr Pham Van Muoi, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Lieu province, said: The agricultural sector presides over advising the Provincial People's Committee to issue 4 decisions, 1 directive, 9 plans, 2 regulations to coordinate and series of documents to implement the instructions of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the National Steering Committee against IUU fishing. At the same time, advise the Provincial Steering Committee on IUU to promulgate decisions, plans and regulations related to the deployment and implementation of IUU.

“When all campaign activities are implemented based on clear legal frameworks, the province's campaign against IUU fishing has had more than the expected results. In 2022, Bac Lieu will no longer have a single fisherman violating foreign waters, the number of vehicles equipped with positioning devices, recorded fishing logs, Reported output of all types of exploitation has reached 100%", Mr Muoi shared.