Removing EC yellow card: Ba Ria - Vung Tau fishermen determined, government resolute

Authorities and fishermen in Ba Ria - Vung Tau are urgently implementing many urgent solutions to combat IUU fishing with the determination to remove the yellow card warning this year.

Fishermen's determination

Mr. Hung, an offshore fishing boat owner in Vung Tau City, shared that his fishing boat had once exploited overlapping waters, was discovered by foreign countries, and was detained, with the boat and crew being processed. After that incident, Mr. Hung’s family was on the brink of bankruptcy, because their assets were confiscated and there was no money left for reinvestment.

Border guards regularly inspect and monitor ships entering and leaving the port.

Mr. Hung said that as the owner of an offshore fishing vessel, he is aware of the huge losses caused by violating the fight against IUU fishing. Not only does it affect the Vietnamese seafood industry, but his family's economy is also in dire straits.

Currently, Mr. Hung is no longer involved in the fishing industry, however, every time he meets fellow fishermen and fishing boat owners in the area, he often reminds everyone to raise awareness of the EC's yellow card warning and fight against IUU fishing.

"Every time I sit down to socialize or have coffee with my fellow fishermen, I often encourage them to be careful when fishing at sea, especially not to fish near overlapping areas, because if they are discovered, they will be arrested and lose all their property," Mr. Hung added.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nhon, owner of an offshore fishing boat in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, also said that at breakfast and coffee breaks, forces such as Border Guard, Coast Guard and local authorities regularly propagate to people to comply with IUU and the State's laws.

Border guards with morning coffee program with fishermen in Phuoc Tinh commune, Long Dat district

Every time they go out to sea to fish, the Border Guard Station also sends officers and soldiers to the boats to remind people to fish legally, not to violate foreign waters or fish near overlapping areas.

"This is a very good policy of the Party and the State during this peak period, propagating to people not to fish illegally in foreign waters, to strictly follow the itinerary monitoring and procedures prescribed by the sectors and localities. Through times like this, people are increasingly more aware, determined to remove the yellow card, and feel secure to stick to the sea to develop their family economy," said Mr. Nhon.

The government's determination

The Border Guard Command of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province said that in 2024, the unit has implemented 4 peak periods of patrolling, controlling, inspecting, and handling fishing vessels violating IUU.

Border Guard ships patrol from the sea to detect and handle fishing vessels that violate the law.

Currently, the provincial Border Guard is mobilizing 3 boat crews, 2 canoes and hundreds of officers and soldiers to set up checkpoints at Loc An estuary, Cua Lap estuary, the area from Hung Thai port to Cau Co May, Sao Mai - Ben Dinh to prevent and handle fishing boats that take advantage of the darkness and tide to avoid inspection and control of the force. Along with that, patrols and strict control of fishing boats operating at sea are organized, forming a closed loop from the shore to the sea.

With the motto "no exceptions, no forbidden areas" in investigating and handling IUU fishing violations, in 2024, the Provincial Border Guard presided over and coordinated with relevant agencies to investigate and handle administrative violations in 59/61 cases of fishing vessels losing connection for more than 10 days; inspected and handled 8 cases of crossing the maritime boundary; prosecuted 1 case and 1 subject for the act of "organizing illegal exit for others".

Check the voyage monitoring equipment on fishing boats before leaving port

In addition, the Border Guard also coordinated with the Provincial Police to investigate and verify 3 cases/29 fishing vessels that removed and sent VMS devices (the Provincial Police have prosecuted 3 cases); coordinated with departments, branches, localities, and forces to investigate and handle fishing vessels that lost connection for more than 6 hours to less than 10 days under the direction of the Provincial People's Committee.

According to Colonel Dang Cao Dat, Commander of the Border Guard of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, recent violations have been promptly handled in accordance with legal regulations.

"During the peak period, the final stage, the Provincial Border Guard proposed many solutions in preventing IUU to focus on handling cases quickly, promptly and ensuring deterrence of violations according to the Government's Decrees and Resolution 04 of the Supreme Council of Judges," said Colonel Dat.

The Chief of Border Guard Command encourages fishermen before each sea trip.

According to Ms. Pham Thi Na, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, the agricultural sector regularly and proactively coordinates with local authorities to grasp the situation of fishing vessel operations, thereby providing solutions to handle fishing vessels that have lost connection for more than 10 days and vessels that are not yet qualified to operate.

The Department also has specific plans and tasks for each member to resolutely investigate, detect fishing vessels that violate regulations and strictly handle them according to regulations.

"There is still a lot of work to do to remove the EC's yellow card. However, Ba Ria - Vung Tau will make efforts and at the same time give specific tasks and assign specific tasks to each locality and department such as Border Guard, Navy, Coast Guard. In addition, localities must go to every alley and knock on every door to manage ships, especially those that are not qualified to go to sea," Ms. Na added.

The agricultural sector strengthens the offshore fishing fleet, especially for those vessels that are not qualified to operate.

With urgent solutions to promote the prevention and combat of IUU fishing by functional forces, along with the drastic participation of local authorities and fishermen, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province hopes to "reach the finish line" to remove the yellow card on fisheries, contributing with coastal localities to develop Vietnam's fisheries industry in a sustainable, responsible and internationally integrated direction.