Fishing vessel management must be strict

That is the request of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien after inspecting and working with Quang Nam province in implementing measures to prevent Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) according to regulations on September 15.

Strictly manage and strictly handle violating fishing vessels

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Nam, in recent years, in preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated Fishing (IUU), Quang Nam province has had a very drastic intervention by the authorities of the provinces. Thanks to that, people's awareness is gradually raised, and fishermen are more aware and progressively adapt and comply with regulations on IUU fishing.

Compared to the previous inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in July 2022, the results of implementing IUU prevention work in the province have had clear changes. Currently, 100% of Quang Nam fishing vessels have painted cabins to mark fishing vessels following regulations in Circular 23. Fishing vessels with the longest length of 15m or more have been appraised and issued Certificates by the Fisheries Department of establishments meeting food hygiene and safety conditions for nearly 640 ships, accounting for 98.4%.

The province has 641 fishing vessels of 15m or more that have installed cruise monitoring, reaching 99%. The remaining 7 ships that have not been installed are located on shore, in other provinces, or with a capacity of less than 90CV, not operating in offshore areas. In addition, Quang Nam has decentralized the management of exploitation, use, and processing of fishing vessel monitoring data to relevant units to monitor fishing vessel activities, certify fisheries, prevent natural disasters, handle disputes at sea, and prevent ships from violating foreign waters...

Ngo Tan, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Nam province, said that in the work of administrative sanctions, from 2022 until now, this province has organized many specialized inspections, tests, and controls. Thereby, 244 violations were administratively sanctioned with a total fine of over VND 3 billion.

However, according to the EC's recommendations, Quang Nam province still has shortcomings and limitations. Because this province has only one designated fishing port, Tam Quang Port (Nui Thanh district), monitoring of seafood output at the port has not reached 100%. In the Northern region, because there is no designated port, fishermen sell seafood at fishing wharves and private fishing ports, and output is uncontrolled.

Quickly fix problems

Faced with the above difficulties, Quang Nam province proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development advise the Government to have a support mechanism for fishing vessels operating within the boundaries of the vessel's permitted exploitation of aquatic resources at sea. Vietnamese fish captured by foreign countries help fishermen feel secure at sea.

At the same time, consider investing in building Hong Trieu fishing port in Duy Nghia commune, Duy Xuyen district, to become a type II fishing port to meet the demand for products and monitor the fishing output of fishing vessels in the districts, towns, and cities in the North of the province; Pay attention to training and improving skills in patrolling, inspecting, controlling, and supervising fishing vessels for forces participating in preventing IUU fishing.

Through inspection and recording of reality, Nguyen Quang Hung, Director of the Department of Fisheries Inspection (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), said that Quang Nam's coastal fisheries account for 76%, which is too large. Therefore, the province needs to rely on the job change project for fishermen developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to successfully change jobs, minimize coastal exploitation, and protect seafood resources.

Along with that, fishing infrastructure needs to be invested and upgraded. The province focuses on type 3 fishing ports. The Central Government will support investment in type 1 and 2 fishing ports. Fishery industry, coastal localities The sea needs to urgently collect statistics and check the current status to register fishing vessels. For 7 ships that have not installed cruise monitoring equipment, they are not allowed to sail. Ships that cross permitted boundaries at sea must be strictly handled according to regulations to serve as a deterrent," Hung said.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien acknowledged the efforts of Quang Nam province. However, with the remaining shortcomings, it is necessary to try harder to have positive, fundamental and comprehensive changes so that the EC's 4th inspection next October will not be confused or criticized.

The management of fishing vessels must be closely monitored; closely direct and guide fishermen to keep complete and accurate fishing logs without confrontation; check and review the registration of fishing vessels and proactively lose connection; ensure that administrative sanctions are applied to the correct behavior, the right level of punishment, and the right person.

Quang Nam province has 6 coastal districts, towns, and cities with seafood exploitation at sea with 2,715 fishing vessels. Of which, 648 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more operating in offshore waters are. The fishing industry in this province has created jobs for about 15,000 workers, of which 13,000 are directly at sea, and about 2,000 are onshore workers working in services and purchasing. In the first 8 months of 2023, total seafood exploitation output in Quang Nam reached more than 74,000 tons.