Among the trips to the sea, the most memorable for me was probably the visit to Hung Thai fishing port (Phuoc Hung commune, Long Dien district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province) in mid-May 2022. In the bustling scene on the wharf and under the boats, the Department of Fisheries Surveillance coordinated with the Department of Fisheries of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and the Newspaper Nguoi Lao Dong to organize the program "Propaganda of the sea and islands" and the program "One million national flags with fishermen at sea". Immediately after that, the Newspaper Nguoi Lao Dong brought 2,000 special gifts, which were red flags with yellow stars, to hand to the boat owners and fishermen fishing far from shore.
Holding the newly awarded flag in his hand, Mr. Vo Huy Cuong (residing in Phuoc Thai hamlet, Phuoc Tinh commune, Long Dien district) immediately attached it to the roof of the ship. Mr. Cuong said: "I always hang the flag in the highest and most solemn position so that when drifting at sea, seeing the flag is like seeing the Fatherland."
The program "One million national flags with fishermen sticking to the sea" was launched and implemented by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper from June 1, 2019. Phase 2 of the program was launched from September 2022 with the new name "Proud of the national flag". To date, 1,074,270 national flags from the component "One million national flags with fishermen sticking to the sea" have been given to fishermen in 28 coastal provinces and cities. Behind this meaningful program are millions of people's hearts towards fishermen. It is also the concern of the Party and State to encourage fishermen to go offshore, thereby contributing to affirming the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
Ba Ria - Vung Tau is considered the fishing capital of the Southeast region with nearly 6,000 fishing vessels, of which 50% are large-capacity vessels fishing offshore with an output of over 315,000 tons/year. In recent times, armed forces units and local authorities have regularly implemented many practical programs and activities for fishermen.
Leaders of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper and local leaders presented national flags from the program "One million national flags with fishermen at sea" (now the program "Proud of the national flag") to fishermen in Xuyen Moc district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in September 2022. Photo: LUU VINH
Officers and soldiers of Naval Region 2 give life jackets and instruct fishermen in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province on measures to prevent accidents at sea. Photo: LUU VINH
Military medical forces check the health of fishermen in distress in Truong Sa waters. Photo: LUU VINH
In Vung Tau City, recently, the Vung Tau City Military Command coordinated with Ben Da Border Guard Station to organize the program "Eating breakfast with fishermen". After the porridge, beef with vegetables and bean sprouts were served on the dining table, fishermen ate breakfast while listening to officers and soldiers of Ben Da Border Guard Station disseminate regulations on combating illegal fishing; solutions for people to work with local authorities and functional forces to soon remove the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood; the Party's policies, the State's laws on seafood exploitation and protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands. Mr. Tran Dinh Khoa, Secretary of the Vung Tau City Party Committee, said that "Eating breakfast with fishermen" is organized quarterly to strengthen solidarity between the government and fishermen; thereby helping people raise awareness of law enforcement at sea.
In recent years, the Border Guard Command of Bai Ria - Vung Tau province has also coordinated with the police force and local authorities in the province to establish 100 "sea fishing boat teams" with the participation of more than 2,000 vehicles and 22,000 fishermen. On each trip out to sea, fishermen in the team gather in groups of 5-10 boats. After fishing for 15-20 days, the boats will take turns transporting seafood to shore for consumption. In addition, any boat that discovers an area with a lot of fish will quickly notify each other to concentrate on exploitation and fishing. Traveling in groups, fishermen can also easily respond to and assist each other when encountering risks.
Practice shows that organizing fishing according to the above model has contributed to reducing travel time and increasing time at sea for the fleet, reducing fuel consumption by 500-900 liters/ship/trip, increasing product quality, reducing post-exploitation losses and increasing profits by 7%-10%.
We must also mention the programs "Coast Guard accompanies fishermen" of the Coast Guard, the program "Vietnam Navy as a support for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea" of the Navy... With the program "Vietnam Navy as a support for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea", units of Naval Region 2 regularly propagate and disseminate laws, helping fishermen to comply with regulations on fishing in fishing grounds under Vietnam's sovereignty. From 2019 to present, the entire Region 2 has conducted 46 propaganda sessions with 133 hours for more than 300 fishing boats and 32,056 fishermen; distributed 17,500 leaflets, presented 8,000 national flags, 1,550 life jackets, 2,500 medical masks with a total value of nearly 2 billion VND to fishermen.
In addition, military units also pay great attention to search and rescue work by proactively developing resolutions and plans on storm prevention, search and rescue at sea in line with the actual situation of the unit and management area; regularly organizing for officers and soldiers to practice according to each plan and situation of search and rescue at sea.
According to Colonel Do Hong Duyen, Chief of Political Affairs of Naval Region 2, whenever there is information about fishermen in distress, the unit immediately determines the coordinates of the ship in distress, the ship's problems, fuel and food on board... to take timely rescue measures, while maintaining contact with the ship in distress to grasp the situation and encourage the fishermen while waiting for rescue forces to arrive.
Going offshore to the sea is not only a way for fishermen to make a living but also a way to affirm and protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. In the current new situation, the role of fishermen in the struggle to protect sovereignty is increasingly emphasized by the Party and State.
Therefore, we need more programs such as "Proud of the National Flag", "Coast Guard accompanies fishermen", "Vietnam Navy is a support for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea"... to truly support, encourage and motivate fishermen to confidently go offshore and stick to the sea.
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