Pioneering in issuing Directives related to combating IUU fishing

Considered one of the first provinces in the country to pioneer and start implementing the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as soon as the Vietnamese seafood industry was "whistled" by the European Commission in October 2017.

There are many changes

In early 2018, Directive No. 30-CT/TU, dated January 16, 2018 of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee (term XIII) on urgent tasks and solutions to strengthen management, prevent and end the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen in the province illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters was issued, marking an important moment for the province's fisheries sector to have a positive change from traditional fishing to responsible fishing and exploitation.

After 6 years of implementing Directive 30, the entire political system from the province to the grassroots, especially coastal localities, has thoroughly grasped, focused on leading, directing, and seriously implementing urgent solutions to combat IUU fishing, along with strengthening management and preventing fishing vessels and fishermen in the province from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters, achieving many positive results. Thanks to that, over the years, the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters has been reduced and initially prevented...

After 6 years of implementing Directive 30, the entire political system from the province to the grassroots level has taken action.

However, this situation has not been completely eliminated, there are still cases of fishing vessels frequently losing VMS connection, exceeding permitted boundaries at sea; fishing vessels under 15m (not subject to VMS equipment installation) operating outside the province, fishing in distant sea areas, bordering other countries... potentially violating foreign waters. In addition, the work of grasping the situation, monitoring, and managing fishing vessels, especially the number of fishing vessels that regularly reside and operate outside the province, not present in the locality, is still difficult, this is a group of fishing vessels with a high risk of violating foreign waters. In addition, violations of legal regulations in the exploitation and protection of aquatic resources still occur, sometimes and in some places, complicatedly...

The work of combating IUU fishing in the province has many changes.

Innovation in propaganda work

In order to prepare well for the 5th Inspection of the EC delegation in Vietnam in the second quarter of 2024, as well as to resolutely not let any fishing vessels of the province illegally fish in foreign waters in the coming time, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee (term XIV) issued a conclusion after the online conference summarizing 6 years of implementing Directive No. 30. Accordingly, it requires Party committees, Party organizations, authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations from the province to the grassroots level to continue to thoroughly grasp and seriously implement Directive No. 45/CT-TTg; Directive No. 17/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister. During the implementation process, it is required that heads of Party committees, Party organizations, authorities of coastal localities and relevant agencies uphold their sense of responsibility, directly strengthen leadership and direction in the fight against IUU fishing; this task must be considered an urgent, regular and continuous task of the entire political system. Focus on implementing drastic and synchronous solutions to prevent and stop the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen of the province illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters, including timely detection, early and remote prevention of violations and signs. At the same time, continue to investigate, verify, consolidate records, and handle acts of brokerage, collusion, and organization of sending fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters.

Strictly manage and control fishing vessels operating at sea.

In addition, continue to strictly manage and control fishing vessels operating at sea, anchored at ports; strictly implement the control and supervision of output arriving at the port, trace the origin of aquatic products from exploitation. The Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations at all levels continue to innovate and improve the effectiveness of propaganda and education for fishermen (in which, clearly identify the main subjects of propaganda and education as ship owners, captains of offshore fishing vessels and their families), creating a profound change in awareness, sense of law compliance, and commitment not to violate. Mobilize fishermen to promptly provide and reflect information related to violations for prevention and handling. Competent agencies and localities promptly commend and commend collectives and individuals who effectively implement measures to combat IUU fishing; thereby propagating and contributing to the replication of good models and good practices.

Implementing well policies to support fishermen. (Photo: N. Lan)

Care for the lives of fishermen

Continue to effectively implement programs and projects on conservation, regeneration, development and sustainable maintenance of aquatic resources. Provincial and district People's Committees pay attention to allocating budgets and mobilizing social resources to invest in implementing effective models and projects in regeneration, development and sustainable maintenance of aquatic resources. Strictly handle acts of exploitation and overfishing of aquatic resources. At the same time, create conditions for restructuring the fisheries sector, first of all restructuring the offshore fleet associated with fishing logistics services and developing aquaculture at sea; effectively implement policies to support fishermen.

Requesting Party committees and authorities at all levels to pay attention to the lives of fishermen. Photo: N. Lan

Assign the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee to lead the Provincial People's Committee to evaluate the results of the implementation of the Project on improving the organization, enhancing capacity, effectiveness, and improving the operational efficiency of the fisheries control force of Binh Thuan province. At the same time, research and submit to competent authorities to carry out urgent tasks such as dredging channels and channels of some ports; prepare to invest in fisheries infrastructure projects in the period of 2026 - 2030 from the local budget and propose the Central Government to support investment in large-scale projects such as storm shelters combined with fishing ports (Chi Cong, Ba Dang, Ho Lan) from the Central budget. Review, develop and supplement the Coordination Regulations between Binh Thuan province and relevant localities and law enforcement forces at sea (Navy, Coast Guard, Fisheries Surveillance) to strictly control and promptly prevent violations by fishing vessels operating outside the province and in overlapping border waters to support and ensure safety for fishermen engaged in offshore fishing activities.

In particular, Party committees and authorities at all levels are required to pay attention to the lives of fishermen; review and plan the renovation of fishermen's residential areas; arrange more parks, flower gardens, sports grounds, and cultural houses to serve areas with a large population of fishermen. The Provincial Women's Union coordinates with relevant agencies to study and support women working at sea to develop their family economy and take care of fishermen's children. Party committees, authorities, Women's Unions and Youth Unions at all levels pay attention to creating conditions and mobilizing fishermen's families to send their children to study and complete high school; create conditions and encourage vocational training and college, university, and postgraduate studies...

Mr. VAN

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/binh-thuan-tien-phong-ban-hanh-chi-thi-lien-quan-chong-khai-thac-iuu-118467.html