Currently, Sam Son City is actively implementing urgent measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing with the determination to work with the province to remove the European Commission's "yellow card".
There are currently 1,625 fishing vessels in Sam Son City. Of these, 1,332 are fishing vessels under 6m in length; 53 are from 6m to under 12m; 86 are from 12m to under 15m; 154 are from 15m and above. In order to focus on overcoming shortcomings and limitations in the fight against IUU fishing, on September 20, 2024, Sam Son City issued Plan No. 4852/KH-TCTLN of the inter-sectoral working group on combating IUU fishing in the area. Accordingly, members of the working group regularly coordinate to focus on directing, inspecting, and handling boats lacking procedures and "3 no" fishing boats in the commune and ward. The forces are determined not to allow operations and move boats without sufficient documents according to regulations to docks No. 1 and No. 2 of the Quang Tien Ward boat storm shelter. Communes and wards regularly coordinate with Sam Son Border Guard Station and Lach Hoi Fishing Port Management Board to guide fishing boat owners on "3 no's" and complete paperwork procedures according to regulations. At the same time, the organization attaches signs to fishing boats on "3 no's" for monitoring, management and installation of surveillance camera systems. These vehicles are strictly prohibited from going offshore until the procedures, paperwork, registration, inspection are completed... To make fishermen aware of the fight against IUU fishing and remove the "yellow card" warning from the European Commission, Sam Son City has stepped up propaganda to raise fishermen's awareness; strictly manage offshore fishing boats and monitor and supervise fishing boats; urge boat owners and fishermen in coastal areas to strictly implement the 2017 Fisheries Law and the Action Plans against IUU fishing of the Central Government, the province and Sam Son City.
To date, 100% of the city’s offshore fishing vessels have been equipped with voyage monitoring devices. Notably, in recent years, Sam Son City has had no fishing vessels violating foreign waters. The owner of fishing boat TH-92454-TS Pham Gia Son, Quang Tien ward, said: “When the authorities informed me that my fishing boat's fishing license had expired for more than 10 days and was at high risk of violating regulations on combating IUU fishing, I went to the Thanh Hoa Fishing Port Management Board to report and was instructed to complete the procedures for re-issuing the fishing boat's fishing registration according to regulations. We feel comfortable when we fully comply with the conditions for fishing and do not have to avoid... when going offshore. Throughout the fishing trip, we comply with the regulations on maintaining the connection of the navigation device and only operate in the permitted sea area. Before each trip, we notify and present documents, papers, and declare information to the fishing boat control team at Lach Hoi Fishing Port 1 hour in advance so that the officers can check the conditions according to regulations”.
According to the announcement of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of November 15, in Sam Son City, there were still 5 fishing boats with lengths from 15m to 16.7m whose fishing licenses had expired for more than 10 days and were at high risk of violating regulations on combating IUU fishing. According to Lieutenant Colonel Luong Ba Thanh, Head of Sam Son Border Guard Station: "The unit is increasing its forces to organize patrols and strictly control, resolutely not allowing vehicles without sufficient paperwork to leave the port. The unit also organizes propaganda for ship owners who are not qualified to operate in Sam Son City to enter the anchorage area and signs a commitment with each ship owner to voluntarily move to the anchorage area according to the instructions of the authorities and not to participate in seafood exploitation when they do not have sufficient paperwork according to regulations. Currently, the unit continues to coordinate with the locality to promote propaganda and mobilize the signing of commitments with ship owners to strictly comply with regulations on seafood exploitation; clearly understand the information and location of fishing vessels in the management area operating at sea to call on ship owners to extend their papers or anchor at storm shelters until they complete the procedures and paperwork according to regulations before participating in exploitation".
Article and photos: Hai Dang
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/sam-son-tich-cuc-chong-khai-thac-iuu-233224.htm
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