Meeting to discuss IUU fishing prevention and preparation for the 5th EC Inspection

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Van Buoi reported at the meeting. Photo: Pham Han

According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, implementing the request of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Official Dispatch No. 992/BNN-TS, Ben Tre still has 243 "3 no" ships that are subject to removal from the announced list. Through reviewing, verifying information, synthesizing the detailed status of each ship, assigning management staff to 61 "3 no" ships that have been removed from the announced list.

Regarding the ships that lost connection signal for 6 hours, Ben Tre had 430 ships. The verification team handling the districts verified 312 cases; all cases were determined to be non-violating, the reason: The ship owner periodically reported the ship's location and the ship had a signal back 10 days in advance, due to satellite wave error, power loss...

At the meeting, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DARD) Nguyen Van Buoi reported on the management of unregistered vessels; inspection and guidance for localities to prepare records for handling fishing vessels that have lost VMS connection signals; handling records of administrative violations without assets for enforcement; coordination with the Department of Fisheries to review and update fishing vessel data to ensure consistency and compliance with the province's reality to serve the work with the 5th EC Inspection Delegation.

The provincial police representative informed about the handling of the case of a fishing boat suspected of violating foreign waters and the solution to completely handle the case. Currently, the provincial police are in the stage of verifying and consolidating the case file closely because there is not enough evidence and basis to punish the boat owner.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment recommends that the Provincial People's Committee request the People's Committees of districts and cities to direct relevant units to pay attention to assigning management staff, clearly understanding the status and activities of unregistered vessels in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Provincial People's Committee. Assign relevant units to handle as well as continue to monitor and urge the implementation of the decision to impose administrative sanctions on 3 cases of violating fishing vessels by the ship owners.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Minh Canh - Head of the Provincial Steering Committee on IUU delivered the concluding remarks. Photo: Pham Han.

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Minh Canh - Head of the Steering Committee on IUU in Ben Tre province suggested that there should be a plan for close coordination in implementing the work of preventing and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) between localities; specifically between the locality where the ship owner resides and the locality where the fishing vessel is anchored. Relevant agencies need to notify the locality outside the province where the ship owner resides and has purchased the fishing vessel from the ship owner in the province so that management is clear and specific.

Contact and implement early and effectively the registration and inspection of fishing vessels in the province. In case of fishing vessels suspected of violating foreign waters, the competent authority will continue to verify additional information to have sufficient grounds and basis to punish the vessel owner.

Le De

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep/hop-ban-phong-chong-khai-thac-iuu-va-cong-tac-chuan-bi-don-thanh-tra-ec-lan-thu-5-a143687.html