Working group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inspects and monitors IUU in Binh Thuan

BTO-This morning (May 29), a working delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had a working session at Phan Thiet Fishing Port on the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, in preparation for the 5th working session with the European Commission (EC) Inspection Delegation.

At Phan Thiet fishing port, the working group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inspected the archived records as well as the process of implementing IUU monitoring steps at the port. Accordingly, the group focused on checking the traceability of aquatic products through journey monitoring equipment, monitoring and supervising fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, and handling fishing vessels violating IUU regulations...

Working group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inspects IUU work in Binh Thuan

In addition, the delegation also worked with the Provincial Fisheries Control Representative Board to check the coordination in monitoring output through ports, the notification of fishing vessels 1 hour before docking at ports and fishing wharfs; how to handle fishing vessels on the IUU list; coordination in comparing VMS data, collection and submission of fishing logs, etc.

The working group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inspected documents at the Office of the Management Board of Phan Thiet Fishing Ports.

It is known that in the first 5 months of 2024, the province has recorded 6,080 ships arriving at the port, 6,552 ships leaving the port; monitored 10,259 tons of seafood output unloaded through the port; collected 2,750 fishing logbooks/4,279 ships arriving at the port to unload products (reaching 64.2%); issued 15 certificates/159.9 tons of seafood; 32 certificates/349 tons of seafood raw materials. All confirmed and certified seafood shipments have been cleared through customs so far, and no problematic documents have been returned.

Check the records and procedures for implementing IUU monitoring steps at the port.

After working at Phan Thiet fishing port, the working group of the Ministry of Agriculture continued to inspect the provincial Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center located at the Department of Fisheries. Here, the group also inspected related administrative procedures, operating processes and monitoring fishing vessels through the VMS system; how to punish when detecting fishing vessels violating IUU, how to manage fishing vessels at high risk of exceeding the permitted boundaries...

The delegation inspected administrative procedures related to IUU at the Provincial Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center.

According to the Department of Fisheries, as of May 28, 2024, the whole province has 1942/1942 fishing vessels in operation with VMS equipment installed: reaching a rate of 100%. In parallel with the deployment of VMS equipment installation for fishing vessels, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed the construction of a Data Center and Data Stations for monitoring fishing vessels in the province's fishing vessel monitoring system.

From October 2023 to now, Binh Thuan has had 43 fishing vessels that have been disconnected for 10 days without bringing the fishing vessels ashore as prescribed. The Fisheries Sub-Department has verified and handled 24 cases, the remaining 19 vessels are continuing to be verified and handled as prescribed. According to the Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center, there are 204 cases of disconnection for more than 6 months/1 year in Binh Thuan.

Through the review, inspection and verification, 177 fishing boats lost connection on shore and stopped using the service, 27 boats lost connection at sea but had returned to shore 10 days earlier...

Since the beginning of 2023, Binh Thuan has had 23 fishing vessels crossing the border, of which 22 were in 2023. The Fisheries Sub-Department has promptly coordinated with the locality and the Border Guard force to work with the ship owner to request the captain to return the ship to Vietnamese waters, and at the same time make a record to handle according to regulations...

It is known that on the afternoon of May 28, the delegation worked at La Gi fishing port. According to the plan, this afternoon, the working delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development led by Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien will have a working session with the Provincial People's Committee on the fight against IUU fishing.

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