BTO-On the morning of September 11, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Nguyen Hong Hai as Head of the delegation inspected the co-management model in protecting aquatic resources in 3 coastal communes of Ham Thuan Nam district. Accompanying him were Mr. Nguyen Van Chien - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; Mr. Huynh Quang Huy - Head of the Department of Fisheries; leaders of Ham Thuan Nam district and 3 Fishermen's Community Associations in 3 communes of Thuan Quy, Tan Thuan, Tan Thanh.
According to the People's Committee of Ham Thuan Nam district, in 2008, the co-management model originated from the idea and proposal of dedicated fishermen in Thuan Quy commune to hand over the sea area for protection, conservation, and rational exploitation of the razor clam resources. However, due to the lack of a legal framework and financial resources, it could not be implemented.
In 2015, the Provincial Fisheries Association developed a project and was approved by the Provincial People's Committee "Pilot model of co-management of razor clams contributing to the effective management and use of aquatic resources and protection of coastal ecosystems in Thuan Quy commune, Ham Thuan Nam district".
Then, the Global Environment Facility - Vietnam Small Grants Program (UNDP/GEF SGP) funded the implementation.
This model was first applied in Binh Thuan province, in the open sea area at a time when the legal framework was not yet clear, so the project's activities mainly focused on propaganda and mobilization of people; operating the organization of fishing communities to participate in co-management in protecting aquatic resources. In addition, supporting and guiding community organizations in patrolling, monitoring, preventing law violations, regenerating razor clam resources, restoring the habitat of aquatic species, etc.
In 2020, after the project funding activities ended, the District People's Committee developed plan No. 198/KH-UBND to continue maintaining and developing the co-management model for the period 2020 - 2025.
The greatest result of the model is the establishment and operation of 3 Fishermen's Community Associations to participate with the State in managing and protecting aquatic resources. From a few households initially registered, up to now, 288 households have been admitted, mobilizing 210.2 million VND to build a fund to maintain living conditions and organize activities to protect aquatic resources... Implementing the 2017 Fisheries Law, the District People's Committee has issued a Decision to recognize and assign management rights in protecting aquatic resources to Fishermen's Community Associations, with a sea area of 43.4 km2 .
At the survey points in 3 communes, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directly listened to members of the Fishermen's Association of 3 communes analyze the advantages of the model. In particular, thanks to the activity of releasing artificial reefs in the past time, to mark the sea area for co-management, with the number of 60 clusters of reefs in 3 communes, it has contributed to preventing and minimizing the activities of prohibited occupations, especially trawling, flying trawling, and wire traps, creating habitats and breeding grounds for aquatic resources. Not only that, the Fishermen's Association of Thuan Quy commune has released 112.4 tons of baby razor clams to restore resources. Violations of the law on fisheries, competitive conflicts in exploitation in the sea area applying co-management sometimes still exist, but have been limited and significantly reduced...
In 2023, the Directorate of Fisheries has connected and received funding from Thien Tam Fund (under Vingroup) to continue releasing 23 new clusters. Of which, Thuan Quy commune has 11 points, Tan Thanh has 6 points and Tan Thuan has 6 points. Notably, in Tan Thuan commune, the model of "IUU Community Monitoring Team" has been built and operated with more than 50 members participating.
At the meeting, representatives of the 3 Fishermen's Community Associations as well as the leaders of the 3 communes raised difficulties in the process of piloting the model such as: There is no financial mechanism or policy to support community organizations to ensure stable operations, so fishermen have not been encouraged to participate extensively. There is no separate meeting place for the Fishermen's Community Associations, and there is a lack of funding to cover the association's activities. In particular, members participate in the association on a voluntary basis, without any financial support...
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai highly appreciated the efforts of the 3 coastal fishing community associations that have maintained their activities quite well in the past time. Although the members of the association work without remuneration, it can be seen that this model brings practical results, helping to increase aquatic resources in the region and significantly improve fishermen's income. This will be one of the core factors for people to recognize and support the State's policy. Not only that, through the model, illegal fishing industries such as trawling and trawling have significantly decreased.
In the coming time, it is recommended that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Fisheries Sub-Department, in their direction, should strengthen propaganda to each fisherman about the purpose and effectiveness of the model, about the coordinates as well as the method of releasing the nets...; research and calculate so that the coordinates of releasing the nets are more suitable and scientific. In addition, it is recommended that the Border Guard Command strengthen coordination and proactively handle cases of fishermen exploiting by traps and octagonal cages that are becoming popular (exploiting aquatic resources to the point of exhaustion) as a deterrent.
Because this is a pilot model, it is not possible to arrange land and funds to build separate houses, so the 3 Fishermen Community Associations try to operate together in hamlets to maintain operations. In particular, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the relevant agencies to promptly summarize and evaluate the model to have a basis for replicating this model to other coastal localities.
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