Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang: Let's work together to remove the "yellow card"

SGGPO 06/26/2023 20:42

On the evening of June 26, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang visited Kien Giang province to inspect the fight against IUU fishing (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing).

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang: Let's work together to remove the

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang inspects the Tac Cau fishing port, Chau Thanh district, Kien Giang province. Photo: QUOC BINH

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang visited Tac Cau fishing port (where there are dozens of seafood processing factories for export and where all the fish caught are concentrated). Afterwards, the Deputy Prime Minister had a working session with leaders of Kien Giang province and representatives of fishermen.

According to the Steering Committee on IUU in Kien Giang province, the total number of registered fishing vessels in Kien Giang province is 9,515, of which 4,277 are fishing vessels with a length of 6m to under 12m, 1,540 are fishing vessels with a length of 12m to under 15m, and 3,698 are fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more. The number of fishing vessels with installed voyage monitoring devices is 3,634/3,698, accounting for 98.26% of fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more; the remaining 64 fishing vessels are on shore and have not installed voyage monitoring devices.

In the past time, departments and branches of Kien Giang province have handled 85 cases/85 vessels with a total fine of over 2.6 billion VND. Localities have drawn up records and issued decisions to administratively sanction 57/116 fishing vessels with a total fine of 602 million VND. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and departments and branches of the province have sanctioned 50 cases of using tracking devices in violation of regulations with a total fine of over 9.5 billion VND.

Mr. Truong Van Ngu, Chairman of Rach Gia City Fisheries Association, said that IUU violations were caused by some greedy people connecting fishing lines to foreign countries, but the advantages were few and the difficulties were many. They were even deceived by these lines and the consequences were losing fishing boats and all their assets.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang shared the difficulties the province is facing in handling IUU violations and the difficulties of fishermen. The Deputy Prime Minister said that recently, localities in the country, specifically Kien Giang province, have shown many positive signs in their efforts to combat IUU fishing.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang presents gifts to fishermen. Photo: QUOC BINH

“I sympathize with the local comrades who have made great efforts and are also worried, but I hope that the comrades and the people still have about 3 more months to strive so that from now until then, no more ships will be caught by foreign countries. If the localities work together to do this, there is a possibility of removing the yellow card. If they cannot remove it and are given a red card, there is no way, our fish cannot be sold anywhere, affecting the lives of millions, tens of millions of people, making it very difficult for the whole country,” Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang shared.

Source