Border guards stand side by side to help fishermen stay firmly at sea

Fishermen carry out procedures at the duty room of the Tho Quang Fishing Port Management Board, Da Nang - Photo: VGP/Minh Trang

From propaganda to action: Building a legal culture at sea

Having just arrived at Tho Quang fishing port (Da Nang City) with a hold full of tuna, the ship BD 92089 TS of Mr. Le Lai (from Binh Dinh) returned after a 10-day long sea voyage. As usual, Mr. Lai's ship completed the paperwork procedure at Man Quang Border Station, then continued to declare at the duty room of Tho Quang Fishing Port Management Board.

Mr. Le Lai shared: "Before each trip, we complete all departure procedures and clearly declare the itinerary. When returning, we also report everything, without making any mistakes. We do business honestly, as long as we comply with the regulations, we have nothing to worry about. The government supports and guides us, so now everyone knows clearly. The most important thing is that when the ship sets sail, we follow the correct procedures and have complete documents. If there is an incident, we will be supported."

Returning at the same time as Mr. Le Lai's boat, fisherman Nguyen Cam, captain of the QNg 92067 TS boat, expressed: "Fishermen go to sea not only for food and clothing, but also for the responsibility to the sovereignty of our homeland's sea and islands. We always comply with regulations against illegal fishing and do not encroach on foreign waters. On each trip, besides catching seafood, we are also 'living milestones', affirming the sovereignty of the Fatherland. The sea is home, protecting the sea is also protecting the future of our children and grandchildren."

Da Nang Port Border Guard and Hai Chau District People's Committee presented national flags and gifts to fishermen, encouraging them to go out to sea.

As an officer directly conducting propaganda sessions on sea and island sovereignty to fishermen and residential areas, Captain Mai Thanh Tai, Political Commissar of the Han River Port Border Station (Da Nang Port Border Guard), said that the violations that fishermen's fishing boats often commit are: Removing the journey monitoring device on the fishing boat; not writing the fishing boat registration number as prescribed; expired fishing boat technical safety certificate; no diploma or certificate as prescribed; not purchasing insurance for crew members; not marking the fishing boat in case of using a fishing boat with a maximum length from 15m to under 24m and from 24m and above...

"The unit continues to coordinate with local authorities and functional forces to promote propaganda and dissemination to fishermen about legal documents related to IUU and regulations when operating at sea, especially means of transport at risk of violating IUU, violating foreign waters...", Captain Mai Thanh Tai said.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Van Duc Truong, Political Commissar of the Border Guard of Da Nang Port, right after the Lunar New Year, the unit organized an integration of IUU into the program of meeting fishermen at the beginning of the year. Accordingly, the fishermen signed a commitment to comply with the law when working at sea, fishing and exploiting without encroaching on foreign waters and while exploiting seafood, participating in the fight to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. At the program, the organizing committee also presented 116 gifts with 1 round buoy and 1 buoy tie to fishermen in Hai Chau district.

Da Nang border guards promote anti-IUU fishing to fishermen - Photo: VGP/Minh Trang

Spreading legal awareness, standing firm at the forefront

In recent times, the Da Nang City Border Guard Command has deployed and applied many effective models and methods in propagating and disseminating laws, supporting the improvement of people's knowledge and livelihoods in coastal border areas.

According to Colonel Ho Sy Hau, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Da Nang City Border Guard, since the beginning of 2024, the city's border guards have disseminated knowledge about the law, sea, islands, and regulations against IUU fishing to more than 5,000 ships/36,600 ship owners and fishermen through inspection and control at border control stations; directly disseminated and guided 26 sessions/2,100 fishermen; disseminated drug prevention, law violation prevention, and drowning accidents to nearly 3,000 students...

With many creative and effective methods, up to now, units under the Da Nang City Border Guard have coordinated with localities to build and replicate many self-governing models to protect border security and sovereignty, prevent and combat crimes, such as: "Solidarity and safety of boat groups"; "Safe and cultural fishing ports and docks"; "Cultural coastal residential areas"; "Safe, cultural and civilized sea routes"...

Up to now, 100% of households in coastal border residential areas have voluntarily registered to implement the movement "All people participate in protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security in the new situation".

In Da Nang City, there are no more "3 no" fishing boats - Photo: VGP/Minh Trang

According to the People's Committee of Da Nang City, as of the end of February, the total number of fishing vessels with a length of 6m or more in Da Nang City was 1,548, of which 735 were coastal fishing vessels, 206 were offshore fishing vessels, and 607 were offshore fishing vessels. Currently, the data of 1,548 fishing vessels has been fully updated into the National Fisheries Database.

As of February, there are no more "3 no" fishing boats in the city. The remaining 85 fishing boats that are not qualified to operate are registered boats (late inspection, no fishing license issued). The city has taken inventory, compiled a list to monitor these 85 fishing boats and assigned localities to strengthen management, assign grassroots party members to monitor and supervise fishing boats; require fishing boat owners not to take fishing boats into fishing activities without full documents, not to leave fishing gear and fishing equipment on board.

Minh Trang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/bien-phong-sat-canh-de-ngu-dan-vung-vang-bam-bien-102250328161946897.htm