As the main force in preventing and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, in recent times, together with relevant levels, sectors and units, the coastal border guard force of Thanh Hoa province has launched a high-profile campaign against IUU fishing.
Sam Son Border Guard Station propagates and guides vehicle owners to sign a commitment to combat IUU fishing.
With a large and diverse number of vehicles operating in many industries in the sea area under patrol and control, in order for the fight against IUU fishing to truly "permeate and permeate" the thinking and awareness of each fisherman, officers and soldiers of Hai Hoa Border Guard Station (located in Nghi Son town) have closely followed the base, focusing on patrolling and propagating to each fisherman with the motto "Know the vehicle, know the vehicle owner, know the captain, know the industry and know the communication channel".
From the beginning of 2024 to now, Hai Hoa Border Guard Station has organized propaganda at boat moorings, visited each fisherman's house to mobilize 553 vessels to sign a commitment to comply with regulations on fishing; propagated more than 100 hours of broadcasting on the loudspeaker system of the town and wards; distributed more than 300 leaflets, brochures, hung banners, and propaganda slogans at the estuaries; made 4 groups of visual propaganda slogans at the estuaries. At the same time, in coordination with the Thanh Hoa Fisheries Sub-Department, Lach Bang Fishing Port Management Board, local Party committees and authorities, patrolled and controlled at sea and at the estuaries 83 vehicles/490 workers, sanctioned 8 cases/8 vehicles for administrative violations.
Major Luong Khac Hanh, Deputy Political Commissar of Hai Hoa Border Guard Station, said: "The unit is assigned to be in charge of 9 wards and 23.5km of coastline with a large number of fishing vessels, so the dissemination of regulations on preventing and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to ship owners is always of interest. In particular, every week the unit conducts a propaganda column, distributes leaflets, hands out flags at the port, and disseminates on the loudspeaker system of the town, ward, and residential groups. Resolutely do not allow departure of vessels without sufficient documents and procedures and step up the handling of administrative violations against vessels that deliberately violate the regulations."
At Sam Son Border Guard Station, implementing the peak period of IUU prevention and control, the unit has stepped up propaganda activities, continued to review, mobilize, and guide vehicle owners to sign a commitment to combat IUU fishing, coordinated with communes and wards in the area to attach signs to 46 "3 no" vehicles (not registered, inspected, not granted fishing licenses); propagated fishermen not to leave port without ensuring procedures and documents according to regulations. At the same time, coordinated with Thanh Hoa Fisheries Sub-Department to strengthen patrols and control at sea, strictly handling violations in accordance with the law.
In order to remove the European Commission's "yellow card" on Vietnam's fisheries sector, in recent times, Thanh Hoa Border Guard has directed coastal border posts to coordinate and effectively implement the management, control and calling of vessels; coordinate with localities to deploy management numbering for rafts and boats that do not meet the conditions for registration; organize verification and establish records to handle administrative violations against violating fishing vessels; focus on the management of offshore fishing vessels. In 2023 alone and as of March 12, 2024, border posts have organized more than 200 patrols and controls on more than 11,000 fishing vessels, thereby detecting and handling 91 cases/91 violators in the fisheries sector, contributing nearly 500 million VND to the budget; Arrested and prosecuted 2 cases, 3 subjects for illegal transportation and trading of explosives, seized 10kg of explosives, 500 detonators, 149m of slow-burning wire.
During the peak period of implementing the plan to launch a peak period against IUU fishing from January 1 to April 30, 2024, Thanh Hoa Border Guard has synchronously deployed measures to investigate and verify fishing vessels that crossed the eastern side of the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin, established many working groups to directly coordinate with border posts to control entry and exit from ports and patrol, control, and handle violating fishing vessels. Closely coordinated with units and People's Committees of coastal districts to organize propaganda, inspect, and review fishing vessels lacking procedures and documents, and urge the implementation of tasks to prevent and combat illegal IUU fishing. During the peak period, 3,000 leaflets on 14 IUU violations according to Article 60 of the Fisheries Law were distributed to stations and stations for fishermen to issue to control stations.
The provincial Border Guard also thoroughly grasped and deployed to all stations and stations on the sea route to be on duty 24/7 at river mouths and inlets; strengthened law enforcement measures, resolutely not allowing fishing boats to go to sea (including boats from other provinces) without ensuring procedures and documents according to regulations; managed to accurately determine the anchorage locations of "3 no" boats; firmly grasped the means of transport lacking procedures, documents and safety equipment in the area; focused on handling means of transport deliberately avoiding inspection and control by functional forces.
Chairman of Hai Thanh Ward People's Committee (Nghi Son) Do Xuan Chung said: "In the ward, there are 213 ships over 15m, up to now 100% have voyage monitoring equipment. The border guard force has propagated to each ship owner about IUU prevention, contributing to changing the awareness of seafood exploitation of fishermen, and each local fisherman has jointly pledged not to fish in prohibited areas".
With the spirit of no exceptions, no forbidden areas, and strict handling of violations, Thanh Hoa Border Guard is determined to overcome the EC's recommendations, contributing to the whole country to soon remove the "yellow card".
Article and photos: Hoang Lan
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