Enhancing anti-illegal exploitation in accordance with IUU regulations amidst Covid-19

Unradical prevention measures despite efforts

According to Tran Van Phuc, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Binh Dinh, the province issued several directives, convened a series of meetings, and inspected the reality in localities to ascertain the current situation, directing departments, branches, and local authorities to implement drastic measures to remove the EC's "yellow card." As a result, even with the Covid-19 epidemic spreading, Binh Dinh does not abandon its fight against IUU fishing.

Preventing fishing boats from harvesting seafood in violation of foreign seas is one of the most pressing concerns. According to the Binh Dinh Department of Fisheries, the province as a whole had nine fishing boats violating international seas and being arrested by foreign nations by the end of April 2021, an increase of five unlawful vessels infringing IUU fishing over the same time last year.

“The majority of unlawful instances included boats operating outside the province and not returning to the areas for an extended period of time, posing a threat to the management work of competent sectors. We have written letters to the provinces where the infringing vessels of Binh Dinh fishermen operate, asking for cooperation in enforcing the law against these boats. Simultaneously, we improve fishing vessel management via cruise monitoring technology, addressing the issue of fishing boats losing signal connection equipment, "said Tran Van Phuc.

Binh Dinh has extensively implemented the remedies, increasing fishermen's knowledge, although there are still many issues to resolve. For example, fishing boats operating on the high seas are tightly regulated in all respects; nevertheless, fishing vessels fishing in coastal regions without the necessary documentation continue to operate clandestinely, and many trawlers continue to operate in the incorrect area.

Additional stringent precautions are required

Due to the fact that Phu Cat district has the highest number of fishing boats breaching foreign seas in Binh Dinh province, this local administration has implemented a variety of measures to address this issue.

According to Luong Van Khoa, Deputy Head of the Phu Cat District's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the district authorities are continuing to coordinate with functional agencies to enforce and sanction six fishing vessels that violate foreign waters.

Specifically, for seven fishing boats that violated foreign seas this year, district authorities collaborated with family members of the authorities to ensure appropriate treatment when the captain and ship owner returned.

Tran Van Phuc cited the Provincial People's Committee's 2021 plan, stating that functional agencies and local governments must implement a series of solutions synchronously and drastically, including strictly handling fishing vessels violating foreign waters, fishing vessels losing signal from vessel monitoring equipment, and fishing vessels being warned not to cross the permitted fishing boundary.

A fleet of fishing boats operating in coastal regions must ensure that they have the necessary documents to conduct fishing operations.

“Until now, the patrol, control, and protection of water resources in strategic regions across the province have been conducted on a consistent, continuous, and successful basis. The Provincial People's Committee has authorized financial assistance to fishermen for the purpose of equipping 2,966 offshore fishing boats with vessel monitoring equipment worth VND30.2 billion. The duties assigned to combat illicit, unreported, and unregulated fishing continue to be carried out. This effort will be intensified in the last six months of 2021,” Nguyen Phi Long, Chairman of the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee, said.