To combat IUU fishing, 100% of fishing vessels in Nam Dinh province are registered

Mr. Hoang Manh Ha, Director of the Fisheries Sub-Department of Nam Dinh Province, stated that over the past two years, the locality has issued dozens of documents to implement the task of removing the yellow card for IUU fishing in the fisheries sector.

Regarding the organization and machinery involved in combating IUU fishing, the provincial People's Committee has issued a Decision to strengthen the Steering Committee for implementing Government Decree No. 67 on certain policies for fisheries development and directing the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with the Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee serving as the head of the committee and specific tasks assigned to members.

The People's Committees of Nam Dinh Province and Kien Giang Province have signed a coordination regulation aimed at controlling the activities of fishing vessels. This regulation includes procedures for confirming the sources of exploited aquatic products and certifying their origin. In addition, they have organized inspections to monitor the effectiveness of IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing prevention efforts in coastal localities. These inspections are designed to provide timely reminders and corrective measures, as well as to issue directives aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of IUU fishing control initiatives.

In terms of communication and public awareness regarding IUU fishing, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is taking the lead. They are working closely with the People's Committees of various districts and relevant agencies to organize training courses and campaigns to raise awareness about the Fisheries Law and its implementing regulations. This includes focusing on new provisions from Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP and Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP. As part of these efforts, fishing vessel owners and captains are required to sign commitments ensuring they will not engage in IUU fishing activities, particularly in foreign waters.

In 2024, a total of four training sessions were conducted, bringing together 815 fishermen and officials engaged in IUU fishing prevention from coastal districts. During the sessions, each participant received a comprehensive set of informational materials, which included a handbook designed specifically for fishermen going out to sea. A second handbook was distributed, outlining critical information that fishermen need to be aware of concerning the exploitation and protection of aquatic resources. To raise awareness about illegal fishing activities, flyers were also provided, detailing the various behaviors associated with the illegal exploitation, sale, and transportation of aquatic products, along with the legal consequences that could arise from such actions, as specified in Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HĐTP. Furthermore, the materials included guides on how to properly delineate fishing zones and instructions for fishermen on how to submit their fishing logs and reports effectively.

Regarding fleet management, monitoring, and controlling the activities of fishing vessels, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has organized the issuance of fishing licenses for local vessels based on the quotas announced in Decision No. 1037 dated April 11, 2024, by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. This decision pertains to the publication and adjustment of fishing license quotas in offshore areas for provinces and centrally-controlled cities, as well as the announcement of quotas for coastal and nearshore areas in the province.

Additionally, the department is responsible for registering, inspecting, and marking fishing vessels, issuing food safety certificates, and updating fishing vessel data in the National Fisheries Database (Vnfishbase).

As of October 23, 2024, the efforts to remove the yellow card for IUU fishing in Nam Dinh have successfully registered 1.198/1.198 fishing vessels. Among these, 752/847 vessels are still valid for inspection, while 95 vessels have expired inspection certificates and have not completed the necessary procedures due to being inoperative or not meeting inspection requirements. Currently, all 95 of these vessels are docked and not engaged in fishing activities. Additionally, 1.188/1.198 active fishing vessels have been marked. The remaining 10 vessels have not been marked due to being inoperative and are also currently docked.

Information for all 1.198 vessels, each measuring 6 meters or more in length, has been updated in the National Fisheries Database (Vnfishbase), achieving a 100% compliance rate.

There are 528 vessels that still hold valid food safety certificates, while 32 vessels do not yet meet the conditions for certification and are also docked, not engaging in any fishing activities.

Nam Dinh Province currently has a total of 1.746 fishing vessels. Among these, 548 vessels (31.4%) are less than 6 meters in length and are managed by the local People's Committees at the communal level. There are 351 vessels (20.1%) measuring between 6 and less than 12 meters; 287 vessels (16.4%) ranging from 12 to less than 15 meters; and 560 vessels (32.1%) that are 15 meters or longer. The total number of individuals directly engaged in fishing activities at sea is 5.388.

As of October 23, 2024, the estimated total seafood catch is nearly 51.000 tons, with marine catch accounting for 48.480 tons and inland catch reaching 2.342 tons.