Tien Giang Border Guard propagates prevention and combat of IUU fishing

The Border Guard of Tien Giang province is one of the core forces in propagating and mobilizing fishermen to strictly comply with regulations on seafood exploitation at sea.

Bộ đội Biên phòng Tiền Giang tuyên truyền phòng, chống khai thác IUU

Officers of Tan Thanh Border Post (Tien Giang Border Guard) coordinated with Tan Thanh Commune Police to propagate about preventing and combating IUU fishing.

In order to prevent and combat illegal exploitation in foreign waters, the People's Committee of Tien Giang province has directed departments, branches and localities to focus on implementing more drastic solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the province.

In particular, the Border Guard of Tien Giang province is one of the core forces in propagating and mobilizing fishermen to strictly comply with regulations on seafood exploitation at sea, not to violate foreign waters according to the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang province, the province currently has 1,275 fishing vessels with 9,140 crew members working directly on board. Of the total number of fishing vessels mentioned above, 60% have large capacity enough to exploit distant fishing grounds such as Con Dao, Truong Sa... Particularly, the trawl, bottom-casting, and hand-line fleets... operate mainly in the fishing grounds of Ba Dong, Vung Tau and Nam Con Son.

Responding to VNA , Colonel Truong Cong Sau, Deputy Commander of the Tien Giang Border Guard, said that before going to sea, the Border Guard forces at the border posts asked the vehicle owners to make a commitment, and at the same time strictly checked the journey monitoring devices, and organized propaganda for fishermen, especially captains, not to fish in violation of the sovereignty of neighboring countries. The unit also organized propaganda on mass media and distributed leaflets to vehicle owners and captains to propagate compliance with regulations on preventing and combating IUU fishing associated with the implementation of the Fisheries Law. This activity contributed to raising awareness of compliance with regulations on marine fishing, not violating IUU. In 2022 and 2023, Tien Giang province had no fishing vessels illegally, unreportedly and unregulatedly fishing.

In 2023, Tien Giang Border Guard actively coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant sectors and localities to strengthen the implementation of strong solutions in combating IUU fishing; well prepared for the 4th working session with the European Commission Inspection Delegation according to the plan of the Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing in Tien Giang province.

In Go Cong Dong district (one of the localities with strengths in seafood exploitation in Tien Giang province), to minimize IUU violations, the Border Guard Stations under the Tien Giang Border Guard coordinated with functional agencies to organize propaganda and training for organizations and individuals on the provisions of Vietnamese, international and foreign laws on fisheries in key fishing areas. The propaganda content is associated with Directive 12 of the Provincial People's Committee on continuing to promote the implementation of a number of solutions to prevent, minimize and end IUU violations by fishing vessels and fishermen in Tien Giang province.

Captain Le Van Vinh, Head of the Border Control Station, Kieng Phuoc Border Guard Station (Tien Giang Border Guard) said: Implementing the plan of the Border Guard Command and the Border Guard of Tien Giang province, the Vam Lang Border Control Station has done a good job of controlling, verifying, and preventing IUU fishing, absolutely not allowing offshore fishing vessels to violate the sovereignty of neighboring countries; resolutely not allowing vessels lacking journey monitoring equipment to leave port. Up to now, 100% of fishing vessels have installed journey monitoring equipment and put it into operation.

Mr. Tran Van O, owner of a fishing vessel in Vam Lang Town (Go Cong Dong District, Tien Giang Province) confided: "Through the propaganda of local authorities and Border Guards, he and his crew members have understood the State's policies on regulations on fishing at sea, so they do not fish illegally in foreign waters."

According to the assessment of the Department of Fisheries (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang province), thanks to the propaganda and mobilization work of many related departments and branches, including the Tien Giang Border Guard force, the awareness of boat owners, fishing vessels and fishermen has been significantly raised, so the number of offshore fishing vessels suspected of violating IUU has been reduced; contributing to ending the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen in Tien Giang province violating IUU.

Colonel Truong Cong Sau, Deputy Commander of Tien Giang Border Guard, said: In the coming time, Tien Giang Border Guard will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies to organize propaganda and training on regulations of Vietnamese, international and foreign fisheries laws in key fishing areas; make lists, isolate targets, and grasp the area to closely monitor and supervise fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing...

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