Part 3: Accompanying fishermen towards sustainable fisheries development

These days, Thai Binh is focusing on implementing drastic measures together with the whole country to fight IUU fishing to overcome the 5th inspection by the EC. In particular, the focus is on good fleet management, maintaining VMS equipment connection and good management of seafood output through ports. In addition to organizing patrols and controlling exploitation and fishing activities in fishing grounds, the authorities also established interdisciplinary teams to coordinate with localities to "go to every alley, knock on every ship" to propagate and educate in order to create a change in awareness among fishermen, determined to soon overcome the EC's recommendations, and remove the "yellow card" warning for Vietnamese seafood.

Vietnam Coast Guard gives gifts to fishermen in Thai Thuy district.

At the Dong Tien boat anchorage area, Thai Do commune (Thai Thuy), many fishermen said that they have a serious awareness of combating IUU fishing and highly agree with the tightening of management by the authorities. Close to and in daily contact with fishermen are officers and soldiers of the Provincial Border Guard. They have proactively followed the area, come to the people to talk to them, propagate to them to understand, and mobilize them to properly implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws on protecting aquatic resources, protecting the environment and combating IUU fishing.

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Ngoc Khanh, Head of Tra Ly Border Guard Station, said: We have organized forces to go to each house and check each boat, first of all to check the safety level of the boats, the status of communication equipment, fishing gear and the identity of the fishermen before departure and arrival, then to handle the owners of the vehicles and fishing boats that intentionally violate the regulations on combating IUU fishing. The common goal is to help fishermen understand the benefits of combating IUU fishing, organize effective and sustainable seafood exploitation, contribute to maintaining the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland as well as contribute to building a blue and peaceful sea.

Fisherman Nguyen Van Chinh, Tan Tien village, Thai Do commune shared: Officers of Tra Ly Border Guard Station came to our boat to propagate to the crew members about fighting against IUU fishing. Through that, we clearly understood the meaning and importance of removing the EC "yellow card".

Fisherman Pham Van Dai from Tan Tien village is the owner of fishing boat TB92989. In January 2024, while fishing offshore, due to objective factors, the boat lost connection for more than 6 hours. He was reminded by the authorities and handled according to the law. Mr. Dai shared: When the authorities propagated about violations against IUU fishing, I myself realized and corrected them. If in previous years, keeping a fishing log was difficult, now it has become a habit. When going to sea, we only fish in Vietnam's fishing grounds, absolutely do not encroach on foreign waters because violations not only lead to arrest and fines but also affect efforts to remove the "yellow card" for seafood nationwide.

Mr. Bui Xuan Cu, Nam Thinh commune (Tien Hai) said: To contribute to removing the EC “yellow card”, my ship always fully complies with regulations. During the entire fishing journey at sea, I record the fishing log and turn on the journey monitoring device, and contact the fishing port management board when departing or arriving at the port. If the actions of each individual affect the whole community and society, we need to change.

Fishermen in Thai Thuy district exploit aquatic products at sea.

Combating IUU fishing has become an urgent issue over the past 6 years; not only Thai Binh but also coastal provinces and cities have joined in, focusing on drastically implementing many solutions to implement the EC's recommendations and regulations on combating IUU fishing to soon remove the "yellow card". State agencies have focused on perfecting institutions, policies and laws in accordance with international regulations, including the EC, such as: Reviewing and supplementing 14 regulations on identifying and combating IUU fishing; issuing new documents and action plans of the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to overcome the EC's "yellow card" warning. To date, there are 715 fishing vessels operating in the province and registered on the VNFishbase system, including: 341 vessels with a length of 6 - 12m, 204 vessels with a length of 12 - 15m, and 170 vessels with a length of over 15m. Number of fishing vessels by fishing industry: 190 trawlers, 358 gillnets, 2 grab nets, 25 logistics vessels, 14 purse seine vessels, 126 other fishing vessels. The output of aquatic products in 2023 will reach 101,395 tons, an increase of 3% compared to 2022. Of which, the output of saltwater exploitation will be 97,029 tons, and the output of freshwater exploitation will be 4,366 tons. The value of aquatic products exploitation will reach 1,543 billion VND, an increase of 3.2%.

Mr. Vu Manh Thia, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: In recent times, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has resolutely implemented tasks to combat IUU fishing, determined to work with agencies, units and fishermen to soon remove the EC "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood. The Department also proactively organized working sessions with coastal districts, border guards, coastal communes and towns. Actively coordinated with relevant sectors to overcome difficulties and obstacles in the fight against IUU fishing and proposed solutions. In the past 3 years, in the province, no fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more violated foreign waters. The rate of registration, inspection and licensing of fishing vessels has increased to over 95.38%. The rate of fishing vessels with a length of over 15m installed with voyage monitoring equipment reached 99.41%. Updating fishing vessel database into the national VNFishbase system reached 100%...

Going offshore to the sea is not only for the economic development of fishermen but also contributes to affirming and protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. Therefore, all levels, sectors and localities always strive to accompany and create the most favorable conditions for people to feel secure in fishing on traditional fishing grounds, contributing with the forces to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Fatherland.