Contributing to the nationwide effort to lift the EC's "yellow card"

Over the past period, together with functional forces and local authorities, the Nghe An Border Guard has been resolutely implementing various forms of propaganda to prevent and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing . This has led to a change in the awareness and actions of fishermen in the area under its management.

The Nghe An Border Guard organized a signing ceremony for fishermen to pledge not to violate IUU regulations.

As a result, fishermen have voluntarily complied with the law when operating at sea, refraining from violating foreign waters to illegally catch seafood; joining hands with all levels, sectors, and the whole country to lift the EC's "yellow card" and contributing to protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland.

Diverse forms of propaganda

We attended an awareness campaign against illegal fishing organized by the Nghe An Border Guard for more than 200 boat owners and fishermen in Quynh Long commune, Quynh Luu district (Nghe An).

Focused awareness campaign targeting boat owners and fishermen in Quynh Long commune on combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing.

Through presentations, using illustrative images and specific cases, border guards helped local people understand and strictly comply with regulations when participating in activities at sea.

Participating in the awareness campaign, fisherman Tran Quoc Thanh from Quynh Long commune said: "As a Vietnamese citizen, I understand that the government has emphasized the responsibility of not violating foreign waters, engaging in illegal fishing, and not adhering to IUU regulations, in order to contribute to the nationwide effort to lift the EC's yellow card and ensure sustainable fishing in the long term..."

Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Long commune, Tran Van Nguyen, said: "We have collaborated with the Border Guard station to invite all offshore fishermen to a training session on the 2017 Fisheries Law and regulations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, thus raising awareness among fishermen. In the future, we will continue to organize this training at all regular meetings and activities in the locality."

At Quynh Phuong fishing port, where a large number of boats from both within and outside the province dock and depart daily, the Quynh Phuong Border Guard Station (Nghe An Border Guard Command) has coordinated with local authorities to organize mobile propaganda teams to visit each fishing boat to disseminate information and distribute leaflets on preventing IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing.

In addition, the Border Guard force has intensified inspections of each fishing vessel before it leaves port, ensuring that all procedures and vessel tracking devices are in order. If any vessel's vessel tracking device is not functioning, it will be resolutely denied departure.

While preparing supplies and necessities for a new fishing trip, fisherman Le Van Hai, owner of the vessel TH 91752 TS, said that thanks to the Border Guard's awareness campaigns, they understand what needs to be done and strictly adhere to regulations. For example, their vessel must have all the necessary procedures completed before the station here will allow it to enter the port.

In addition to reporting to the Border Guard station, we also declared the origin of the harvested seafood to the port management... When departing, we also ensured that all procedures were followed as required.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tu Hoa, Political Officer of the Quynh Phuong Border Guard Station, said: The Quynh Phuong Border Guard Station manages more than 1,100 fishing vessels of all types. In recent times, the unit has closely coordinated with local Party committees and authorities in supporting and assisting fishermen to venture out to sea and maintain their livelihoods. They have promptly assisted fishermen in disaster prevention and control, search and rescue operations; and, through communication systems, radio, and Icom, have disseminated information and guidance to vessels operating in distant waters, combining fishing with gathering and providing information and images on the activities of foreign vessels encroaching on Vietnam's waters to relevant authorities for handling. The unit also coordinates with fishing ports to strictly inspect and control fishing vessels entering and leaving the port…

Along with organized, focused propaganda efforts, the Nghe An Border Guard has applied various forms and methods of communication suitable to the fishing and exploitation activities of local fishermen, especially in compiling leaflets with concise, easy-to-understand, easy-to-remember legal regulations that are convenient to carry while working at sea; providing necessary phone numbers and frequencies for contact in case of difficulties; recording audio content on regulations against IUU fishing; coordinating with local authorities to broadcast on public address systems; organizing communication conferences and signing commitments to prevent IUU fishing.

Border guards took the opportunity to visit each boat owner's family to spread awareness.

The Nghe An Border Guard Command, in coordination with local authorities and relevant agencies, will focus on identifying and classifying high-risk groups that violate foreign waters; strictly controlling fishing vessels departing from ports, preventing unqualified vessels from leaving; severely punishing fishing vessels violating VMS regulations and those violating foreign waters; and addressing violations at fishing ports... This will create a shift in awareness and behavior among fishermen in their work at sea.

Contributing to the nationwide effort to remove the yellow card.

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

Over the past period, the Party Committee and Command of the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard have focused on leading and directing coastal units to decisively and effectively implement the task of combating IUU fishing. Just since 2021, the Nghe An Border Guard has issued 14 directives, official documents, and plans; and conducted 5 inspections at coastal border guard posts and stations to guide the fight against IUU fishing. Through these efforts, they have promptly rectified shortcomings, enhanced the responsibility of officers and soldiers, and strengthened and improved the system of records and documents on combating IUU fishing at the units in accordance with regulations.

The Nghe An Border Guard Command, in coordination with relevant units, advised the Provincial People's Committee to investigate, verify, and handle 6 cases involving 26 fishing vessels violating foreign waters; issued administrative fines totaling 650 million VND; and revoked the captain's licenses and certificates for 4 months and 15 days for 2 vessel owners…

To effectively prevent and deter fishing vessels from violating foreign waters, the Nghe An Border Guard has proactively coordinated with relevant forces and localities to effectively carry out propaganda work against IUU fishing; launched a high-intensity campaign to raise awareness among all fishermen in coastal districts and towns, and organized fishermen to sign commitments to combat IUU fishing...

From 2021 to the present, 35 focused awareness campaigns have been organized, reaching 4,800 fishing vessel owners and fishermen; daily broadcasts have been conducted on the radio systems of 34 coastal border communes and wards; 30 mobile campaigns using portable loudspeakers have been carried out in 34 coastal communes and wards; and nearly 8,000 leaflets and brochures promoting awareness about IUU fishing have been compiled and distributed. Through these efforts, the awareness, understanding, and responsibility of fishermen, especially vessel owners, in complying with the Fisheries Law and combating IUU fishing have been enhanced.

The Nghe An Border Guard has proactively coordinated closely with other forces to effectively monitor the situation at sea, directing professional forces to conduct basic investigations and create files to track fishing vessels at "high risk" of violating foreign waters; promptly detecting and preventing fishing vessels from violating foreign waters and engaging in illegal fishing.

The Nghe An Border Guard Command has intensified its efforts to direct border guard posts and checkpoints along the coast to strictly control fishing vessels entering and leaving waterways, resolutely preventing vessels from leaving waterways without complete procedures, documents, and safety equipment as required; deploying patrol boats and coordinating with the Fisheries Sub-Department to regularly patrol and control the sea area, thereby directly disseminating information, reminding and strictly handling cases of violations according to the law.

Processing departure procedures for vessel owners at the Lach Corn Border Guard Checkpoint.

Thanks to these comprehensive and diverse solutions, the situation regarding fishing vessels in Nghe An province violating regulations on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing has seen many positive changes and will eventually cease in the near future.

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

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