Binh Thuan focuses on fighting IUU fishing

After more than 1 year of focusing on implementing the EC's recommendations after the 4th inspection in Vietnam (October 2023), Binh Thuan has so far carried out a large amount of work, initially achieving important results according to the requirements and targets set, contributing to the whole country on the journey to remove the IUU "yellow card" this year.

Decisive involvement

At the 28th session (special session) - the 11th Provincial People's Council recently passed a Resolution regulating the policy of supporting VMS subscription fees in the province. This is a policy of great significance in preventing and not allowing fishing vessels to violate foreign waters and encouraging fishermen to stay at sea. Thanks to close monitoring of high-risk vessels, so far, the province has not detected any fishing vessels violating foreign waters. In addition, Binh Thuan has made efforts to carry out the work of registering and granting fishing licenses for "3 no" fishing vessels reaching over 95.3%. The rate of fishing vessels registered, inspected, and granted valid fishing licenses has been increased. To date, the whole province has 8,241 inspected fishing vessels (including: 4,266 vessels from 6 -

Disseminate policies and the 2017 Fisheries Law to fishermen.

However, there are still some targets and tasks that have not met the requirements according to the recommendations of the EC, the direction of the Central Government and the province. Currently, the whole province still has 1,084 fishing vessels that have not completed the procedures for granting or re-granting licenses; 135 "3 no" fishing vessels have not completed the registration. The situation of fishing vessels losing connection to VMS at sea is still common and has not been resolved. In addition, the number of fishing vessels docking at ports to unload products is still low, the rate of output controlled through ports is not high. The handling of administrative violations, especially the handling of fishing vessels losing connection to VMS at sea, has not made any progress. In particular, the progress of implementing projects to repair fishing port infrastructure, dredging channels, and handling environmental pollution in fishing port areas has been made efforts, but is still slow.

In preparation for working with the 5th European Commission (EC) Inspection Delegation (expected in November 2024), Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai requested functional sectors, especially specialized agencies, units and coastal localities to closely follow the direction of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee, review and focus resources to urgently overcome shortcomings and limitations related to anti-IUU work.

Handling of administrative violations, especially handling of fishing vessels losing VMS connection at sea, is still limited.

Focus on remaining tasks

The most important thing is to strictly manage high-risk fishing vessels, not allowing fishing vessels and fishermen to violate foreign waters. At the same time, it is necessary to complete the registration of the group of "3 no" fishing vessels announced by the Provincial People's Committee before November 20, 2024, and promptly review and grasp all remaining "3 no" fishing vessels to handle them according to regulations and urge fishing vessels that have registered but do not have/have expired fishing licenses to carry out procedures for re-issuance, strictly control, and not allow them to leave port for fishing. In particular, focus on resolving limitations and shortcomings in recording fishing logs of fishermen. Regarding this issue, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that competent agencies organize direct guidance at fishing ports, open training courses in key fishing areas; Develop concise, easy-to-understand instruction sheets to print and distribute to fishermen, issue food safety certificates/commitments to fishing vessels to ensure conditions for confirming the origin of exploited aquatic products for export processing enterprises, associated with the effective and feasible implementation of the eCDT system according to the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Strengthen inspection and control of fishing vessels operating at sea, at temporary wharves and beaches.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also emphasized the need to focus on completing the verification and handling of fishing vessels that have lost VMS connection at sea (over 10 days, 6 hours) from October 2023 to present, to be completed before November 30, 2024. From now on, fishing vessels that have lost VMS connection during the month must be verified and handled immediately in that month. The functional forces (Border Guard, Fisheries Surveillance, Fisheries Control Office) continue to organize peak patrols, inspections, and control of fishing vessels operating at sea, at temporary wharves, and beaches to detect, prevent, and handle according to regulations.

Resolutely not allow fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for entry, exit, docking and operating at sea.

For projects to improve fishing port infrastructure, dredge channels, and treat environmental pollution in fishing port areas, relevant agencies are required to continue to coordinate to complete procedures and documents according to legal regulations and organize construction and implementation of projects to ensure the set progress. In particular, focus on and urgently complete the dredging package of the water area in front of the 400 CV wharf - La Gi Fishing Port and the fire prevention and fighting project to expand and upgrade the storm shelter anchorage area combined with La Gi estuary fishing port to soon put into operation and use...

For problems related to synchronizing VMS device data to the system such as: Fishing vessels purchased and transferred quotas from provinces that have installed VMS devices but have not updated data to the system because the provinces have not deleted data and transferred vessel information on the system. Or VMS devices purchased by fishermen from units providing voyage monitoring equipment, but are not qualified to synchronize to the system... request the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to review and handle thoroughly, if necessary, advise the Provincial People's Committee to send a written report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the provinces for coordination in resolving.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/binh-thuan-don-luc-chong-khai-thac-iuu-126030.html