Contribute to the whole country to remove the EC "yellow card"

In recent times, together with functional forces and local authorities, Nghe An Border Guard has been vigorously implementing propaganda forms to prevent and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU ). Thereby, it has changed the awareness and actions of fishermen in the area under its management.

Nghe An Border Guard organized fishermen to sign a commitment not to violate IUU regulations.

Thanks to that, fishermen have voluntarily complied with the law when operating at sea, not violating foreign waters to illegally catch seafood; joining hands with all levels, sectors and the whole country to remove the EC's "yellow card" and contribute to protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland.

Diversified forms of propaganda

We attended an anti-illegal fishing propaganda session organized by Nghe An Border Guard for more than 200 vehicle owners and fishermen in Quynh Long commune, Quynh Luu district (Nghe An).

Focused propaganda for vehicle owners and fishermen on combating IUU fishing in Quynh Long commune.

Through the presentation method, using illustrations and specific cases, border guards helped people have correct awareness and strictly comply when participating in activities at sea.

Participating in the propaganda session, fisherman Tran Quoc Thanh in Quynh Long commune said: As a Vietnamese citizen, the State has propagated that we must be responsible, not violate foreign waters, fish illegally, not follow IUU regulations to contribute to the whole country to remove the EC's yellow card for long-term fishing...

Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Long Commune, Tran Van Nguyen, said: "We have coordinated with the Border Guard Station to invite all offshore fishermen to organize propaganda for them about the 2017 Fisheries Law and regulations against illegal fishing, thereby raising awareness among fishermen. In the coming time, we will continue to organize propaganda at all regular meetings and activities in the locality."

Quynh Phuong fishing port, where many boats from inside and outside the province dock and leave every day, Quynh Phuong Border Guard Station (Nghe An Border Guard) has coordinated with the locality to organize mobile propaganda teams to each fishing boat to propagate and distribute leaflets on IUU prevention.

Along with that, the Border Guard force also increased inspection of each fishing boat before leaving port to ensure procedures and journey monitoring equipment. If any boat has a journey monitoring device that is not working, it will absolutely not be allowed to leave port.

Preparing supplies and necessities for a new voyage, fisherman Le Van Hai, owner of the TH 91752 TS ship, said that thanks to the propaganda of the Border Guard, we clearly understand what needs to be done and strictly follow the regulations. For example, when our ship enters here, we must complete all procedures before the station here will allow us to enter the port.

In addition to reporting to the Border Guard station, we also declared to the port management about the origin of the caught seafood... When leaving the port, we also ensured the procedures according to regulations.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tu Hoa, Political Commissar of Quynh Phuong Border Guard Station, said: Quynh Phuong Border Guard Station manages more than 1,100 fishing vessels of all kinds. In recent times, the unit has closely coordinated with local Party committees and authorities in supporting and helping fishermen go offshore and stick to the sea. Timely support people in preventing and fighting natural disasters, searching and rescuing; at the same time, through the communication system, radio, Icom to propagate and guide vessels operating in distant waters to combine fishing with capturing and providing news and images of foreign vessels violating our country's waters for the authorities to handle. The unit also coordinates with fishing ports to strictly inspect and control fishing vessels entering and leaving the port...

Along with organizing concentrated propaganda, Nghe An Border Guard has applied many forms and methods of propaganda suitable for fishing and exploitation activities of fishermen, especially in compiling leaflets with legal regulations that are concise, easy to understand, easy to remember and convenient to carry when working at sea; phone numbers and frequencies needed to contact when encountering difficulties; recording the contents of regulations against IUU fishing; coordinating with local authorities to broadcast on loudspeaker systems; organizing media conferences and signing commitments to prevent IUU fishing.

The Border Guard took the opportunity to visit each ship owner's family to propagate.

Nghe An Border Guard also coordinates with localities and functional agencies to focus on zoning and classifying high-risk subjects violating foreign waters; strictly controlling fishing vessels leaving port, not allowing fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions to leave port; strictly handling fishing vessels violating VMS regulations, vessels violating foreign waters; handling violations at fishing ports... Thereby creating changes in awareness and actions for fishermen in the process of doing business at sea.

Contribute to the whole country to remove the yellow card

Colonel Ho Quyet Thang, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Nghe An Border Guard, said: The fight against IUU fishing is one of the important political tasks of all levels, sectors, and forces, including Nghe An Border Guard.

In recent times, the Party Committee and Command of the Border Guard of Nghe An province have focused on leading and directing coastal units to resolutely and effectively implement the task of combating IUU fishing. From 2021 to present, Nghe An Border Guard has issued 14 directives, dispatches, and plans; conducted 5 inspections at coastal border posts and stations to direct the fight against IUU fishing. Thereby, promptly correcting and enhancing the responsibility of officers and soldiers, while consolidating and perfecting the system of records and books on combating IUU fishing at units according to regulations.

Nghe An Border Guard has coordinated with relevant units to advise the Provincial People's Committee to investigate, verify and handle 6 cases and 26 fishing vessels violating foreign waters; issued a decision to impose an administrative fine of 650 million VND; revoked the right to use the captain's diploma and certificate for 4 months and 15 days for 2 vessel owners...

To effectively prevent and stop fishing vessels from violating foreign waters, Nghe An Border Guard has proactively coordinated with relevant forces and localities to effectively propagate against IUU fishing; launched a peak campaign of propaganda to all fishermen in coastal districts and towns, organized fishermen to sign a commitment to combat IUU fishing...

From 2021 to present, 35 concentrated propaganda sessions have been organized for 4,800 fishing vessel owners and fishermen; daily propaganda on the radio system of 34 coastal border communes and wards; 30 mobile propaganda sessions using loudspeakers in 34 coastal communes and wards; nearly 8,000 leaflets and brochures have been edited and distributed to propagate IUU fishing... Thereby, raising awareness, consciousness and responsibility of fishermen, especially vessel owners, in complying with the Fisheries Law and combating IUU fishing.

Nghe An Border Guard has proactively coordinated closely with other forces to do a good job of grasping the situation at sea, directing professional forces to conduct basic investigations, establish records to monitor fishing vessels with "high risk" of violating foreign waters; promptly detect, prevent, and prevent fishing vessels from violating foreign waters to illegally exploit seafood.

Nghe An Border Guard has strengthened the direction of the coastal border control stations and stations to strictly control fishing vessels when entering and leaving the channel, resolutely not allowing vessels to leave the channel without full procedures, documents and safety equipment as prescribed; deploying fleets of ships and coordinating with the Fisheries Sub-Department to regularly patrol and control the sea area, thereby directly propagating, reminding and strictly handling violations according to the law.

Carry out departure procedures for vehicle owners at Lach Con Border Control Station.

Thanks to the above synchronous and diverse solutions, the situation of fishing boats in Nghe An violating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has had many positive changes, and will come to an end in the near future.

Nghe An has 82km of coastline with 3,384 fishing vessels, including more than 1,600 offshore fishing vessels with a capacity of more than 90 horsepower.

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