Quang Ninh joins hands with the whole country to protect the prestige, position and national image.

Combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is an important, urgent task with long-term significance for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector in Quang Ninh. In recent times, the province has been determined in implementing and deploying many synchronous solutions, thereby joining hands with the whole country to remove the IUU “yellow card”.

The Border Guard Station of Hon Gai Port coordinated to inspect and handle illegal fishing vessels in Ha Long Bay. (Source: BQN)

Quang Ninh has outstanding potential and advantages to develop aquaculture into one of the important economic sectors, accounting for a large proportion in the province's economic structure.

Rushing to "join the game"

Recognizing the importance and strategy in fisheries development activities, Quang Ninh always closely follows and absorbs the instructions of the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister, and the National Steering Committee on IUU for implementation.

The province has issued many documents and plans to direct relevant departments, branches, localities and organizations to implement. The focus is on propaganda and raising awareness among fishermen in combating IUU fishing; strengthening management, patrolling, controlling, and grasping the situation at sea, in order to promptly prevent fishing vessels from fishing illegally; strictly handling cases of fishermen violating or intentionally violating...

The whole province has 5,556 fishing vessels; 4,242/4,247 registered and temporarily registered vessels (vessels 6m or longer must be registered), reaching 99.88%, of which 4,072 vessels are licensed and temporarily licensed, reaching 95.88%; 725/730 vessels 12m or longer (subject to inspection) updated inspection data, reaching 99.32%; the output of seafood unloaded through fishing vessel control points and statistics from communes, wards and towns is 44,928.27/46,375 tons, reaching 96.88%.

For 258 fishing vessels of 15m or longer in operation, voyage monitoring devices have been installed, reaching a rate of 100%. 100% of fishing vessels in the province have had their data updated on the VNFISHBASE system as directed from May 2024.

Since the beginning of 2024, no fishing vessel has lost its monitoring connection signal at sea for more than 10 days. Since 2017, Quang Ninh has not had any fishing vessels violating foreign waters being arrested or handled.

At the district level, for example, Van Don currently has 1,268 fishing vessels (37 vessels with a length of 15m or more; 38 vessels with a length of 12-15m; 793 vessels with a length of 6-under 12m; 400 vessels under 6m). To step up the fight against IUU fishing, the district has recently strengthened control, coordinated with relevant forces to inspect and handle IUU violations in the area.

From the beginning of 2024 to the end of August 2024, the forces discovered and handled 15 fishing vessels in violation, imposing administrative fines of nearly 300 million VND.

Mr. Dao Van Vu, Vice Chairman of Van Don District People's Committee, said that the district continues to organize a peak period to strengthen inspection, control and handling of IUU violations; arrange functional forces and enforce the law at key fishing grounds 24/7; resolutely handle strictly, ensuring deterrence against IUU violations at fishing ports and in sea areas.

Do not allow fishing vessels to unload exploited aquatic products at illegal landing points; closely monitor offshore fishing vessels, fishing vessels that lose connection for more than 6 hours to 10 days at sea without reporting their location to shore as prescribed, fishing vessels that lose connection to VMS for a long time (over 6 months); resolutely do not allow "3 no" fishing vessels and fishing vessels violating IUU to operate; focus on removing difficulties and obstacles to carry out registration procedures and grant fishing licenses to unregistered vessels.

At the same time, direct the Agricultural Technical Service Center to coordinate with relevant units and agencies to complete the dossier for announcing the opening of the port, and proceed to complete the procedures and conditions to propose to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to designate Cai Rong fishing port as qualified for offshore fishing vessels to dock. Thereby helping Quang Ninh province in particular, and the whole country in general, to remove the IUU "yellow card" in 2024.

Or with Quang Yen, a town with potential to develop marine economy, also actively "joined the game".

The town currently has 2,322 fishing vessels (819 vessels under 6m long; 1,097 vessels from 6-12m long; 289 vessels from 12-15m long; 117 vessels from 15m or longer). Registering fishing vessels with "3 no's" according to Circular No. 06/2024/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the town has 102 vessels.

To date, the town has notified all ship owners to submit documents according to regulations, 50 fishing vessels have registered. The town has conducted technical safety inspections for 19/50 vessels, and is expected to issue licenses to 100% of fishing vessels by the end of October 2024.

Nghiem Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, inspected the situation in Quang Yen, August 2024. (Source: BQN)

Determined to remove the IUU "yellow card" warning

Currently, Quang Ninh continues to strengthen solutions, determined to remove the "yellow card" warning at the 5th inspection by the European Commission (EC), not to affect the development of the fisheries industry, the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities; protect the prestige, position and image of the country.

In particular, the province requires localities and relevant sectors to thoroughly handle "3 no" fishing vessels, fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions to participate in illegal fishing activities, fishing vessels that have been deregistered but are still operating.... At the same time, strictly handle violations of IUU fishing regulations to create a strong change in the fight against IUU fishing in the area, specifically focusing on handling violations related to illegal fishing, trading, and transportation of aquatic products; review all and thoroughly handle IUU fishing violations since the 4th EC inspection.

First of all, focus on handling cases of disconnecting, sending, transporting VMS equipment, crossing maritime boundaries; brokerage, collusion, illegal exploitation violations in foreign waters... (in cases where penalties are not imposed, specific reasons must be clearly identified and responsibility must be taken if violations are not punished according to the provisions of law), continue to investigate, verify, and resolutely punish violations according to the provisions of Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP dated June 12, 2024 of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court.

The province also requested the police and border guards to strengthen coordination with local authorities (communes/wards/towns) to strengthen the work of grasping the situation in key areas, propagandizing and mobilizing, promptly detecting and preventing early and from a distance fishing vessels and fishermen intending to illegally exploit in foreign waters.

Share data, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, entering and leaving ports, fishing vessels participating in fishing activities at sea, monitor exploited aquatic product output; resolutely handle the responsibility of the Fishing Port Management Board, the Office of Fisheries Inspection and Control at fishing ports for fishing vessels violating IUU fishing entering and leaving ports, loading and unloading exploited aquatic products without verification and handling according to regulations.

Seriously and effectively implement the electronic traceability system at fishing ports and fishing vessel control points to ensure transparency and legality in confirming, certifying, and tracing the origin of exploited aquatic products in accordance with regulations...

Believing that, with the participation of the entire political system, Quang Ninh is joining hands with coastal provinces and cities across the country to achieve the goal of removing the "yellow card" on fisheries in 2024.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/go-the-vang-iuu-quang-ninh-chung-tay-cung-ca-nuoc-bao-ve-uy-tin-vi-the-va-hinh-anh-quoc-gia-293462.html