Along with coastal provinces and cities, Binh Thuan is in the peak period of implementing the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with the participation of the entire political system, determined to join the whole country in removing the "yellow card" on seafood by the end of this year.
Screening and screening of at-risk ships
At the recent online conference of the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang requested Binh Thuan province to make a list of fishing vessels at risk of violating foreign waters and have a plan to strictly manage this fleet within 2 weeks. If one of the vessels on this list later violates foreign waters, the provincial People's Committee leader must take responsibility. Implementing the above opinion as well as being determined not to let any more cases of violating foreign waters arise, Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee has reviewed, made a list and has specific solutions to manage this group of vessels.
The whole province has over 8,450 fishing vessels with a length of 6 meters or more, with over 48,000 workers directly exploiting aquatic products. Of these, about 1,400 fishing vessels regularly operate in distant waters (Truong Sa area, DK1, waters bordering other countries). In addition, there are a number of fishing vessels (including fishing vessels with a length of 12m to under 15m that are not required to install VMS equipment) operating in fishing, diving... at offshore mounds and reefs, bordering other countries, regularly operating, staying, departing from the province, rarely returning to the locality, posing a high risk of violating illegal exploitation in foreign waters. Fully aware of the responsibility for combating IUU fishing and overcoming the EC's "yellow card" warning, in recent years, Binh Thuan province has seriously and resolutely implemented the direction of the Standing Secretariat, the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee on IUU, especially implementing measures to prevent and stop fishing vessels and fishermen from violating foreign waters according to the direction of the Prime Minister. However, in 2023, there was still 1 case/1 vessel/7 workers violating and being arrested by Malaysia, affecting the country's common efforts in removing the IUU "yellow card" warning. The Provincial People's Committee has fined the fishing vessel owner 900 million VND, and at the same time reviewed and learned from the heads of agencies, units and localities that allowed fishing vessels to violate foreign waters.
Learning from previous incidents of fishing vessels violating foreign waters, the Provincial People's Committee has directed units and localities to review, screen, and classify into 6 groups of vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters: Fishing vessels in high-risk occupations (fishing, diving, logistics services, etc.) in areas with many fishing vessels violating foreign waters; offshore fishing vessels that frequently lose VMS connection in the border area or fishing vessels that repeatedly lose VMS connection for less than 6 hours in the border area without reporting or for unknown reasons; fishing vessels that have violated foreign waters and have been detected or fishing vessels with fishermen on board (especially the captain) who have violated foreign waters and have been arrested and returned; fishing vessels that frequently stay and depart from ports outside the province and rarely return to their localities, especially in the southern provinces from Ba Ria - Vung Tau to Kien Giang; Fishing vessels registered in Binh Thuan belonging to high-risk occupations have been sold outside the province but have not completed procedures according to regulations or rented to people outside the province to operate in other provinces and not return to Binh Thuan; other cases according to the characteristics of each locality.
86 ships under special monitoring and surveillance
On that basis, the province has identified 173 fishing vessels at risk of violating foreign waters (the largest are Phu Quy with 85 vessels, La Gi town with 48 vessels, Phan Thiet with 18 vessels, Tuy Phong with 13 vessels...). Of which, the province has identified 86 fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters that are subject to special monitoring and supervision (Tuy Phong with 12 vessels; Phan Thiet with 13 vessels; Ham Thuan Nam with 2 vessels; La Gi town with 22 vessels; Ham Tan with 1 vessel; Phu Quy with 36 vessels).
To closely monitor and manage this fleet, in addition to promoting propaganda work, having ship owners and captains sign commitments not to violate foreign waters, the Provincial People's Committee requires promoting the role of grassroots organizations, unions, and religious organizations to actively participate in propaganda, grasp the situation, and monitor high-risk subjects (including fishing vessels, captains, and workers on fishing vessels). Mobilize people to denounce suspicious cases to proactively prevent them in a timely manner. In addition, direct localities and functional forces to assign cadres, soldiers, and party members at the grassroots level to be in charge of, monitor, regularly contact, and grasp information about the activities of fishing vessels, promptly and remotely prevent subjects showing signs of violations.
In particular, it is necessary to ensure that 100% of fishing vessels meet the conditions for operation (registration, inspection, fishing license, VMS equipment, etc.) before leaving port to operate. Strictly handle organizations and individuals who allow fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for operation to leave port to operate at sea. In addition, it is necessary to monitor and supervise 100% of fishing vessels operating at sea through the fishing vessel monitoring system; promptly warn and handle when detecting fishing vessels losing connection to VMS, crossing the maritime boundary. Coordinate with provinces and maritime law enforcement forces to inspect, control and handle fishing vessels operating outside the province, fishing vessels losing connection in adjacent sea areas. Strengthen close coordination with law enforcement forces at sea and functional forces of provinces to inspect and control provincial fishing vessels operating outside the province, especially fishing vessels under 15m in length that are not subject to VMS installation, to closely monitor and strictly handle violations...
If fishing vessels are found to be illegally violating foreign waters, the heads of relevant agencies, units and localities shall be responsible before the Provincial People's Committee.
Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/quan-ly-tau-ca-co-nguy-co-vi-pham-nuoc-ngoai-nhu-the-nao-119999.html
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