Fisheries surveillance force acts to stop illegal fishing in Tonkin gulf

The Fisheries Surveillance Sub-department of Region 1 has synchronously implemented a number of solutions to prevent and minimise illegal fishing in the Tonkin Gulf.

With a coastline of about 763km the Tonkin gulf is a key fishing ground. Thus, many vessels from a number of provinces and foreign ships often conduct illegal fishing in the area.

According to the Dinh Van Trang, head of Fisheries Surveillance Sub-department of Region 1, the sub-department is tasked with detecting, controlling, and handling violations of Vietnam’s fisheries laws and regulations that occur in the country’s sea areas. It will also help ensure safety for fishermen and their vessels at sea as well as preventing foreign fishing vessels from encroaching on Vietnam’s seas for illegal fishing.

The common violations of Vietnamese fishing vessels are not hanging the national flags of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam or the flag is hung improperly, he said.

The registration number isn’t marked on the boat and some captains don’t have certificates as required.

Trang said that some ships are detected not equipped with safety equipment. They don’t have certificates of technical safety for fishing vessels or the certificates have expired.

He blamed on fishermen’ poor living conditions and that some people can’t move to a new job due to lack of funding.

The main violation of Chinese fishing vessels is exploiting aquatic products without licenses or their crew members do not have identification papers.

However, Trang said, the situation has been improved over the past few years.

Thanks to the dissemination campaign on the law enforcement at sea, people's awareness has been changed and violations have been gradually reduced. Fishermen are better in compliance with the Law on Fisheries.

Challenges

Last year, the Fisheries Surveillance Sub-department of Region 1 carried out 12 inspections at sea, Trang said.

As many as 778 fishing boats operated in the Tonkin Gulf were inspected. Of these, 751 boats are Vietnamese vessels and the rest are Chinese.

The sub-department imposed administrative punishment on 202 cases of violation with the total fine of more than VND 900 billion.

Despite the fact that positive results have been made over the past year, there are still shortcomings which need to be solved, he said.

Last year, the patrolling and inspection of Fisheries Surveillance Force was affected by COVID-19 pandemic and issues relating to the fluctuation of petrol price. 

To fulfil the assigned tasks, the sub-department has decided to strengthen the inspection of the Fisheries Surveillance Force from the beginning of this year by lengthening the patrolling days for 5 days more. 25 trips will be organised this year and more trips might be added in case of need.

It will continue collaborating with relevant forces to collect information, supervise and handle violations as well as in search and rescue works.

More attention will be paid to popularise regulations on fisheries in the Tonkin gulf.

It also works with other agencies and localities to remove European Union's yellow card by launching dissemination campaigns to enhance fishermen's awareness on aquatic resource protection, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).

“Despite facing many difficulties including unfavorable weather conditions and difficulty to access vessels at sea, in some cases people don't cooperate with the Fisheries Surveillance Force. However, no cases of ships resisted against Vietnamese  marine law enforcement forces have been recorded in the Tonkin gulf," Trang said.