Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien requested Ha Tinh to continue to focus on implementing solutions to combat IUU fishing and remove the EC's "Yellow Card" warning.
On the morning of January 12, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien led a working delegation to inspect and work with the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province on the situation of production, management of aquaculture activities, conservation of aquatic products, aquatic infrastructure and implementation of recommendations of the European Commission (EC) on combating IUU fishing. Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Linh chaired the reception and worked with the delegation. |
Ha Tinh has a coastline of 137km, with over 20 large and small rivers flowing into 4 estuaries, and many lakes and dams. Ha Tinh is considered a locality with great potential and advantages for developing fisheries exploitation. The whole province has 2,720 registered fishing vessels. The annual fisheries exploitation output reaches nearly 40,000 tons, with a growth rate of 4%/year.
The leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported on the results of the implementation of the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) in Ha Tinh province.
In recent years, Ha Tinh's fisheries sector has made quite comprehensive developments. The fisheries sector has increasingly affirmed its role in creating livelihoods for fishermen, creating large-scale export products and contributing to maintaining the security and order of the country's sea and island sovereignty.
The implementation of solutions to prevent and combat IUU fishing has achieved some positive results. Units and localities in the province have proactively implemented the 2017 Fisheries Law, key and urgent solutions to combat IUU fishing from direction to implementation. Coordination, inspection and handling of violations have been resolutely organized and implemented by all levels and sectors. Therefore, violations of IUU fishing in the area have decreased significantly compared to previous years.
Up to now, there have been no fishing vessels or fishermen illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters in the area. There have been no detections of any networks, organizations or individuals brokering fishing vessels or fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters.
Propaganda work for fishing vessels operating in offshore waters has always received special attention from functional forces and localities, reminding and thoroughly understanding them; organizing the signing of commitments not to violate for fishing vessels operating in the sea.
Director of the Fisheries Control Department Nguyen Quang Hung mentioned a number of solutions that Ha Tinh needs to focus on implementing in the coming time.
At the meeting, Ha Tinh also proposed that the Government, ministries and branches arrange and prioritize investment capital, build and upgrade fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels to ensure conditions according to EC requirements; support upgrading infrastructure systems in high-tech aquaculture areas to reduce pressure on coastal seafood exploitation.
The channels leading to and from fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing boats are often silted up. It is recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development conduct a comprehensive survey and assessment, prioritize and propose to the government resources and policies to help localities regularly dredge channels to ensure safety for fishing boats.
Discussing at the working session, delegates of the working delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development pointed out a number of shortcomings and limitations and suggested solutions that localities need to focus on implementing in the coming time.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien highly appreciated the efforts and results of Ha Tinh in the field of fisheries in particular and agriculture in general.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien spoke at the meeting.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development also said that through the inspection of the working group, it was found that the management of fishing activities in Ha Tinh still has some limitations; the handling of violations is not strict. He requested that Ha Tinh continue to focus on implementing solutions to combat IUU fishing, removing the EC's "Yellow Card" warning. In particular, continue to strengthen the role of the police and border guards in patrolling, inspecting and controlling fisheries at sea; promptly detect and strictly handle violations, focusing on IUU fishing (if any).
Continue to effectively implement regulations related to monitoring, control and supervision of fishing vessels (ensuring that 100% of local fishing vessels must be registered, inspected and granted fishing licenses according to regulations).
Coordinate to have solutions to strictly manage and thoroughly handle the group of "3 no" fishing vessels, ensuring no violations of illegal fishing. Strengthen the monitoring of output, collection and submission of fishing logs. Focus on the work of confirming, certifying and tracing the origin of exploited seafood.
Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Linh spoke at the meeting.
Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Linh requested relevant departments and branches to accept the opinions of the working group members and the conclusion of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien. At the same time, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was assigned to coordinate with relevant units and localities to review and effectively implement solutions to combat IUU fishing and remove the EC's "Yellow Card" warning.
Before the working session, the delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inspected the actual situation at Cua Hoi port (Nghi Xuan) and Cua Sot port (Loc Ha).
Duong Chien
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