Tightly manage fleet to combat IUU fishing

Fishermen raise awareness

These days, at Hon Ro fishing port, Phuoc Dong commune, Nha Trang city (Khanh Hoa), we witnessed the bustling atmosphere when ships entered and left the port.

Khanh Hoa fishermen collect ice, preparing to go offshore. Photo: KS.

In order to implement the European Commission's (EC) measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Khanh Hoa provincial authorities have strictly controlled fishing vessels from the time they leave the port, the fishing process at sea until they enter the port.

Fisherman Le Minh Tri, owner and captain of the KH 99457 TS boat, specializing in tuna fishing in Vinh Phuoc ward, Nha Trang city, said that thanks to propaganda, his boat has recently complied with regulations on entering and leaving the port, having to declare, turn on journey monitoring, record fishing logs, and catch aquatic products according to the law, especially not encroaching on foreign waters.

“Currently, my ship has strictly complied with the above issues with the desire to join hands to remove the IUU “yellow card”, Mr. Tri confided.

Similarly, fisherman Ho Van Tuoi, captain of ship KH 93449 TS in Hon Ro, Phuoc Dong commune, said that his ship also complies with the legal regulations of "going out and reporting back", and has not violated IUU fishing for many years.

Through this, he hopes that each fisherman will unite and make concrete efforts to soon achieve the goal of removing the “yellow card” in the near future. From there, seafood exporting enterprises can easily purchase, helping seafood prices stabilize and increase. Only then will fishermen feel secure staying at sea and stabilizing their lives.

Khanh Hoa fishermen comply with the regulation "go and report". Photo: KS.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ba, Head of Hon Ro Fishing Port Management Board, said that in addition to promoting propaganda for fishermen, the Fishing Port Management Board has recently implemented regulations on combating IUU fishing.

“We absolutely do not allow ships without sufficient documents such as operating license, registration, inspection (ie not qualified) to leave port. Before leaving port, we remind ship owners to turn on the voyage monitoring device (VMS) 24/7, from the time they leave port until they arrive at port.

Along with that, when returning to port, the ship captain must notify at least 1 hour in advance so that the Port Management Board can arrange a supervisor, as well as submit and sign a complete seafood declaration to the Fisheries Inspection and Control Representative Office at the port," Mr. Ba shared, adding that the happy thing is that now the awareness of Khanh Hoa fishermen has become disciplined, complying with legal regulations to contribute to removing the "yellow card".

Continue to closely monitor the fleet

According to the Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing in Khanh Hoa Province, the province currently has 3,416 fishing vessels. These vessels have been registered, numbered, marked in accordance with regulations, and fully updated on the VnFishbase software (National Fishing Vessel Management Data System).

Of the 633 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more, operating in offshore waters, 631 have been installed with VMS, only 1 new vessel was purchased by fishermen from another province and 1 vessel is still on shore waiting to be sold without the equipment installed. 623 fishing vessels have been granted food safety certificates.

Fishermen want the "yellow card" removed for stable exports and increased tuna prices. Photo: KS.

Regarding the supervision of fishing vessels, all fishing ports in the province have posted the inspection process for fishing vessels entering and leaving the port; 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving the port must notify the Fishing Port Management Board 1 hour in advance and are inspected by competent authorities in accordance with regulations.

Ship owners and captains must submit complete fishing logbooks; the amount of seafood loaded and unloaded through the port is inspected and monitored in accordance with regulations.

The provincial Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center has organized a 24/7 shift, arranged staff to monitor the signals of fishing vessels operating at sea through the voyage monitoring system, and promptly warned fishing vessels at risk of crossing the boundaries of the fishing waters.

Every week, the list of fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing is updated on the fishing vessel monitoring system; cases of fishing vessels violating the law have been strictly handled...

Regarding the key tasks in the coming time, Mr. Nguyen Duy Quang, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, and Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for combating IUU fishing in Khanh Hoa province, requested departments, branches and localities to continue to thoroughly grasp and seriously and resolutely implement tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing according to the direction of the Central Government, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee.

The Provincial Border Guard Command continues to direct the monitoring of 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports at border posts or stations along the sea, and fishing vessels that have left ports but have not yet returned to their localities. Resolutely not to process the departure procedures for any fishing vessel that does not meet the requirements.

Fishing vessels loading and unloading seafood through the port are monitored on the system. Photo: KS.

The People's Committees of districts, towns and cities coordinate with relevant units to continue to strictly manage fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate and are at high risk of violating IUU fishing (not yet installed with VMS, vessels with expired fishing licenses, expired inspections, etc.). At the same time, regularly update the location and images of fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate and report to the Provincial Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing. In addition, propagate, mobilize and request fishing vessel owners to renew fishing licenses, fishing vessel technical safety certificates, and fishing vessel food safety certificates.

Fishing ports continue to promote the implementation of the electronic traceability system for exploited aquatic products (eCDT), ensuring that 100% of all fishing vessels entering and leaving the port and the output of aquatic products loaded and unloaded through the port are monitored on the system.

The authorities have strengthened patrolling, inspection and control in the sea areas of the province, thereby promptly detecting and preventing fishing vessels with signs of IUU fishing violations. They have also resolutely and strictly handled cases of fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for operation (not registered, inspected, not having a fishing license, not marking fishing vessels, not installing VMS...); fishing vessels operating in the wrong area, wrong route; fishing vessels using prohibited fishing gear and occupations to exploit seafood; fishing vessels that do not comply with regulations on docking at ports, recording and submitting fishing logs as prescribed.

Khanh Hoa province is the first locality to apply the electronic traceability system for exploited seafood (eCDT) to manage the fleet and trace the origin of exploited seafood. Up to now, 4 representative offices for fisheries inspection and control at the ports: Hon Ro, Vinh Luong (Nha Trang city), Da Bac (Cam Ranh city) and Dai Lanh (Van Ninh district) have all been installed with kiosk tablets with eCDT software installed to ensure monitoring and management on the system of all fishing vessels entering and leaving the port and the amount of seafood loaded and unloaded through the port.

Source: https://nongnghiep.vn/quan-ly-chat-doi-tau-de-chong-khai-thac-iuu-d742990.html