If in the period 2011 - 2017, the whole province had 51 cases/70 fishing boats/699 fishermen violating foreign waters, then since Directive No. 30-CT/TU dated January 16, 2018 of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee (term XIII) was issued until now, the whole province has only had 19 cases/24 fishing boats/172 fishermen violating foreign waters and were arrested by the authorities. Although this situation has not completely ended, the strong participation of the entire political system has helped fishermen in the province to change from awareness to action.
There is a change
At the recent online conference summarizing 6 years of implementing Directive No. 30 on urgent tasks and solutions to strengthen management, prevent and end the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen in the province illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters, delegates acknowledged that Binh Thuan is the first province to issue Directive 30 related to the fight against IUU fishing. In particular, the work of managing and preventing the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen in the province illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters was emphasized. Thanks to that, over the years, this work has had many positive changes. The situation of fishing vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters has been reduced and initially prevented. From January 2018 to February 2024, the whole province had 19 cases, a decrease of 32 cases compared to the previous period, most concentrated in La Gi town (20 vessels), the rest were Phu Quy, Ham Tan and Tuy Phong. The handling of fishing vessels violating foreign waters is carried out seriously. The Provincial Border Guard Command has issued a decision to administratively sanction the captains of 7 fishing vessels for the act of sending Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to exploit in foreign waters with the amount of 85 million VND/captain; the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision to administratively sanction 3 fishing vessel owners violating foreign waters with the amount of 900 million VND/fishing vessel.
In addition to administrative sanctions, provincial and local authorities also apply additional sanctions such as: revoking fishing licenses, removing from the list of offshore fishing activities, stopping the implementation of support policies for fishing vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters; publicly announcing on mass media and organizing reviews of fishing vessel owners and captains who violate in front of the community... In addition, from 2018 to 2023, functional forces have sanctioned violations in fisheries activities, especially IUU violations in 3,346 cases with a fine of more than 24 billion VND, of which, the Provincial Border Guard Command has handled 846 violations with a fine of 2.79 billion VND; the Fisheries Sub-Department has sanctioned 2,500 cases with a fine of 21.2 billion VND.
This is an urgent, ongoing task.
Speaking at the conference, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai said: The management work at sea and control of offshore fishing fleets still face many difficulties, so the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen encroaching on foreign waters to exploit and illegally purchase seafood and being arrested and handled by foreign countries has decreased significantly, but still occurs. Therefore, departments, branches, sectors and localities with sea must be more drastic and synchronize solutions to prevent and end this situation, especially during the peak period of the 5th EC inspection in Vietnam. Timely detection, early and remote prevention of acts of sending fishing vessels and fishermen to exploit seafood in violation of foreign waters. Continue to investigate, verify, consolidate records, and handle the acts of organizations and individuals who have acts of brokerage and collusion to bring fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood.
With the achieved results, at the conference, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Hoai Anh emphasized: The authorities must mobilize all resources and promptly overcome the shortcomings and limitations that the EC Inspection Team pointed out in the 4th inspection. At the same time, prepare well the conditions to work with the EC Inspection Team for the 5th inspection in the second quarter of 2024. In addition, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations continue to innovate and improve the effectiveness of propaganda and education work for fishermen (ship owners and families of sea workers), in order to create a strong change in awareness, sense of law compliance, and commitment to not violate illegal exploitation in foreign waters.
In particular, the Provincial Party Secretary requested that localities and competent agencies promptly commend and commend individuals and groups that have effectively implemented measures to combat IUU fishing. From there, promote and replicate good and effective models of IUU implementation. At the same time, create conditions for restructuring the fisheries sector, first of all restructuring the offshore fleet associated with fishing logistics services, developing aquaculture at sea in places with conditions, and implementing well the policy of supporting fishermen according to Decision 48 and Decree 67 of the Government. Localities must study and submit to competent authorities for policies on urgent tasks such as dredging channels and fishing port infrastructure; continue to propose the Central Government to support and mobilize other capital sources, and promptly deploy investment in storm shelters combined with fishing ports. Develop and supplement coordination regulations between Binh Thuan province and relevant localities and with law enforcement forces at sea (Navy, Coast Guard, Fisheries Surveillance) to strictly control and promptly prevent violations by fishing vessels operating outside the province and in overlapping border areas to support and ensure safety for fishermen engaged in offshore fishing activities. At the same time, the Provincial Party Secretary also requested Party committees, authorities, and organizations at all levels to proactively care for and build sustainable livelihoods for fishermen...
At the conference, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Hoai Anh requested: Heads of Party committees, Party organizations, authorities at all levels and relevant agencies continue to directly lead and effectively direct the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing, and must consider this task as urgent, regular and continuous for the entire political system.
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