Ca Mau Party Secretary requests strict handling of destructive fishing

On the morning of July 11, at the 14th session of the People's Council of Ca Mau province, term X, 2021-2026, Mr. Nguyen Quan Ha, Deputy Commissar of the Provincial Border Guard proposed a number of solutions to effectively implement the work of preventing and combating destructive exploitation of aquatic resources, associated with combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Hai, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Ca Mau province, requested functional agencies and localities to strengthen inspection, control and strictly handle violations of destructive fishing practices.

According to Mr. Ha, up to now, relevant localities and units have propagated and mobilized more than 34,000 households to sign a commitment not to illegally produce, trade, store, transport and use explosives, electric shocks and toxic substances to exploit aquatic resources.

In addition, people have voluntarily handed over nearly 600 sets of destructive electric shock devices; 100% of commune-level units have set up hotlines to receive reports on destructive exploitation of aquatic resources. The whole province has 1,529/1,530 fishing vessels installed with journey monitoring devices, reaching 99.9%.

However, propaganda, mobilization and implementation responsibility are sometimes not determined, drastic and taken seriously by some localities; people's awareness is not high and compliance is not good.

Through patrols, authorities discovered and handled 346 violations of regulations on destructive exploitation of aquatic resources, imposing fines of over one billion VND.

Mr. Ha proposed that relevant Party committees, authorities, agencies, units and organizations continue to propagate so that all people understand about the environment, seas and islands...

Along with that, it is necessary to promptly detect early, from a distance, and prevent right from the shore fishing boats of fishermen who intentionally violate the law; not to store and sell electric shock devices.

"The provincial authorities need to continue to strengthen patrolling, inspection and comprehensive control of fishing activities; resolutely and strictly handle violations; cases of administrative sanctions that re-offend can be criminally prosecuted according to the law," Mr. Ha proposed.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen Tien Hai, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Ca Mau province, said that the province is focusing on fighting illegal fishing, violations of foreign waters, unreported and unregulated fishing at sea.

"If we do not resolutely overcome this in the near future, and the European inspection team comes to inspect and cannot remove the yellow card, then Vietnamese seafood will not be able to be exported to this market, and people will face many disadvantages," Mr. Hai emphasized.

According to Mr. Hai, Ca Mau is a province with abundant natural fish resources. However, destructive exploitation methods using electric shock, chemicals, fish poison, explosives, etc. are causing aquatic resources to gradually become depleted.

Faced with this situation, provincial leaders directed the entire political system to engage in propaganda and mobilization to guide people not to engage in destructive fishing and exploitation.

Mr. Hai also informed that in June, the Supreme People's Court's Judicial Council issued Resolution No. 04, which stipulates that about 20 groups of violations of both coastal and inland fisheries exploitation that are destructive will be handled under the provisions of the Penal Code. Among them, there are some acts that are subject to very high penalties of up to 15 years in prison.

In July 2024, Ca Mau province will organize direct and online conferences from the province to the grassroots widely, along with propaganda and guidance documents sent to the people, so that everyone can seriously implement them.

“Anyone who violates will be strictly punished according to the law. I also earnestly request that people strictly follow the law on this issue, do not violate and be punished,” said Mr. Hai.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/bi-thu-ca-mau-yeu-cau-xu-ly-nghiem-nan-khai-thac-thuy-san-tan-diet-192240711125028881.htm