Along with other coastal provinces and cities, Ha Tinh is implementing many solutions and is determined to combat illegal fishing (IUU) to develop a sustainable marine economy.
Many violations detected
On October 1, 2023, the TH-91850-TS ship operated by Mr. Hoang Dinh Lai in Hai Binh commune, Tinh Gia district (Thanh Hoa) docked at Cua Sot port (Thach Kim, Loc Ha). Through the monitoring system, the fisheries inspection and control force at Cua Sot fishing port discovered that the TH-91850-TS was fishing in the wrong area and made a record, reporting to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ha Tinh province for handling according to regulations.
The IUU Office at Cua Sot fishing port monitors IUU compliance of fishing vessels through monitoring system software.
This is one of hundreds of violations against IUU fishing detected by the fisheries inspection and control force at Cua Sot fishing port since the beginning of the year. According to statistics, in the first 10 months of 2023, the Ha Tinh IUU Office detected and recorded 301 cases of illegal fishing vessels. The main violations were: expired registration, failure to maintain voyage monitoring equipment, and illegal fishing...
Mr. Than Quoc Te - Deputy Director of the Management Board of Ha Tinh Fishing Ports and Wharves said: “According to the European Commission's recommendation on combating IUU fishing, fishing vessels of 12m or more are required to keep a fishing log. From this recommendation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a regulation that fishing vessels with a length of 6m to less than 12m must submit a fishing report. Vessels of 12m or more must have a fishing log.
In order to combat IUU fishing, in recent times, Ha Tinh authorities have implemented many synchronous solutions, from propaganda and mobilization, building sanctions to not allowing fishing vessels to leave port, revoking fishing licenses... for violating fishing vessels. These efforts have gradually formed the habit of complying with the provisions of the Fisheries Law for fishermen.
Authorities educate fishermen about combating IUU fishing
Present at Cua Sot fishing port, we recorded that the ships entering the port strictly complied with the regulations of "declaring when going, declaring when returning". On average, Cua Sot port has about 30 - 50 ships declaring every day. In addition to local ships, there are also ships from provinces such as Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Hai Phong... that comply well with declaration activities and equip technical equipment on board.
Fisherman Dinh Khac Sau - owner of fishing boat HP 99885 TS in Lap Le commune, Thuy Nguyen district, Hai Phong said: "Since the regulations on seafood traceability were issued, I have always fished in the right area, on the right route and have not violated the fishing grounds of neighboring countries. All fishing routes of the boat are updated to the software system of the fishing port management board through route monitoring, so we are not foolish enough to violate them because we will be severely punished."
Improving the effectiveness of combating IUU fishing
According to statistics from the Ha Tinh Fisheries Department, the province currently has 2,733 registered fishing vessels. Of these, 406 are operating in the offshore area (length from 12m to less than 15m); 92 are operating in the offshore area (length from 15m or more); and the rest are fishing vessels operating in coastal waters in the province (length less than 12m). Of the total 2,733 registered fishing vessels, 92 are operating in the offshore area, contributing the majority of Ha Tinh's fishing output.
Fisheries and border guards are inspecting and handling fishing vessels violating IUU fishing in Ha Tinh waters.
Regarding the issuance of fishing licenses, the province has 2,733/2,733 fishing vessels marking and drawing license plates in accordance with regulations (100%); 2,529 fishing licenses are still valid/2,733 fishing vessels (92.5%). The number of vessels that have entered fishing vessel data into the national fisheries database (VNFISHBASE) is 100%. The province has 89/89 fishing vessels operating in offshore fishing areas that have installed VMS equipment (100%); 3 vessels are currently damaged, lying on shore and not operating at sea; the fishing vessel owners have made a written commitment to install VMS equipment before resuming operations.
As of October 17, fishing ports in the province received 7,738 fishing vessels arriving at ports and 7,740 fishing vessels leaving ports. The output of aquatic products through the ports reached 2,809 tons. The whole province received 7,308 logbooks and reports on fishing exploitation for fishing vessels with a length of 6m or more.
Patrolling and controlling fishing vessels operating in Ha Tinh waters
Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoang, Head of the Ha Tinh Fisheries Department, said: “With the determination to work with the whole country to remove the yellow card warning from the European Commission, Ha Tinh has issued many urgent solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Most recently, the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province issued a telegram on urgently implementing strong measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The telegram demonstrates Ha Tinh's high political determination in combating IUU fishing, for a sustainable fishery. In the coming time, the industry will continue to effectively implement regulations related to monitoring, controlling and supervising fishing vessels; ensuring that 100% of fishing vessels are eligible to complete inspection; strengthening monitoring of output, collection and submission of fishing logs, and resolutely and strictly handling violations."
Phan Tram - Thu Phuong
Source
Comment (0)