Contribute to the modernization of the fisheries industry

In recent years, the establishment of a system of fishing ports and storm shelters has had a positive and direct impact on the development of seafood catching capacity, especially large-capacity fishing vessels in the province, contributing to the modernization of the fisheries industry. However, the infrastructure of fishing ports and seaports in the province has degraded, and many places have silted up waterways, significantly affecting the province's fishing production activities.

Promoting the effectiveness of some fishing port projects

Binh Thuan is one of the three major fishing grounds in the country, so in recent years, the Central Government and the province have invested thousands of billions of VND to build, upgrade and put into operation a number of important fishing ports and storm shelters in key fishing areas such as Phan Thiet fishing port, storm shelter - Phan Ri Cua fishing port, storm shelter - La Gi fishing port (La Gi town), regional storm shelter - Phu Hai fishing port (Phan Thiet city), storm shelter - Lien Huong fishing port (Tuy Phong district) and Phu Quy regional storm shelter (Phu Quy district). These fishing ports and storm shelters not only provide logistics services for seafood exploitation and natural disaster prevention for fishing vessels and fishermen in the province, but also attract thousands of fishing vessels from other provinces to dock to consume products, receive supplies and fuel for seafood fishing, and at the same time contribute to controlling illegal fishing.

According to the Planning of the system of fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels until 2020, with a vision to 2030, Binh Thuan will have 5 fishing ports (including: 1 type I fishing port and 4 type II fishing ports) and 12 storm shelters for fishing vessels (2 regional areas and 10 provincial areas). However, up to now, the province has only completed the investment and put into operation and use 4 fishing ports, including 1 type I fishing port (Phan Thiet Port) and 3 type II fishing ports (Phu Hai, La Gi, Phan Ri Cua Ports) with a total designed capacity of unloading seafood through the port of 130,000 tons, meeting about 56% of the annual output of fishing vessels in and outside the province (about 230 - 240 thousand tons/year). In addition, 5 storm shelters for fishing vessels have been invested and completed, including 2 regional anchorage areas (Phu Hai Port, Phu Quy Island) and 3 provincial anchorage areas (Phan Ri Port; La Gi Port, Lien Huong Port); designed for 4,300 fishing vessels to anchor, meeting about 56% of the province's fishing vessels (of which, the storm shelter anchorage area for fishing vessels on Phu Quy Island has just completed phase 1, and is under construction in phase 2). This result is thanks to the province mobilizing capital sources (Central support, ODA capital and provincial budget) to invest in completing, putting into operation and promoting the effectiveness of a number of important fishing port projects and storm shelters in key fishing areas of the province.

*Fishermen are importing raw fuel to go to sea.*

Investment orientation

Currently, Binh Thuan province has submitted a report proposing the planning of fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels in the province for the period 2021 - 2023, with a vision to 2050 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Accordingly, the province proposed the planning of fishing ports and storm shelters including 8 fishing ports (2 type I ports, 6 type II ports), 7 storm shelters for fishing vessels (2 regional areas, 5 provincial areas) and 6 type III fishing ports combined with local boat anchorages. At the same time, the natural conditions of the province as well as the inter-regional impacts of fishing ports and storm shelters in the province on fisheries production activities in the region and the whole country are considered and assessed to ensure effectiveness, longevity and sustainability.

*Phu Quy storm shelter (phase 1). Photo: D.Hoa.*

In the coming time, the province will continue to invest in the construction of phase 2 of the Phu Quy fishing boat shelter (a regional-level storm shelter, with a capacity of 1,000 fishing boats up to 600 CV, combined with Trieu Duong fishing port, which has completed phase 1, including a breakwater and a buoy system, forming a storm shelter with an area of 55.9 hectares). In addition, it is necessary to complete the project to expand and upgrade the La Gi fishing port - storm shelter area. Continue to invest in the construction of the fishing boat shelter in Chi Cong, Mui Ne, Ba Dang. In addition, implement the Phan Thiet fishing port wastewater treatment plant expansion project, which has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee. Implement projects to prevent IUU fishing in the province, the medium-term plan for the period 2021 - 2025 such as upgrading the infrastructure of Phan Ri Cua fishing port, investing in ships and boats for Fisheries Control to serve patrolling, controlling and preventing IUU fishing, equipping canoes for the Management Board of fishing ports and fishing boat anchorages in the province and building new Fisheries Control Stations in Tuy Phong and Phan Thiet areas (combined with the Representative Office for Fisheries Control at fishing ports).

Mr. N's third-hand-discretion.jpg — *Phan Ri Cua fishing port (photo: N. Lan)*

According to the Provincial Fishing Port Management Board, most of the fishing ports in the province were invested in and built a long time ago and are now degraded. The silting up of river channels, seaports, anchorage areas, and fishing ports still exists and has been going on for many years. Therefore, it is recommended that the Provincial People's Committee urgently repair and promptly overcome the state of infrastructure degradation and environmental pollution at fishing ports to serve production associated with preventing and combating IUU fishing. In addition, there must be a plan to periodically dredging the estuaries, channels into fishing ports, storm shelters, and turning basins, limiting silting to ensure the safety of fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, regardless of the tide. Invest in and upgrade to complete the infrastructure of Phu Hai fishing port, and propose that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development consider and appraise Phu Hai fishing port to have a sufficient system to confirm the origin of aquatic products from exploitation.

At the same time, the leaders of the Provincial Fishing Port Management Board also requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to soon complete and submit to the Prime Minister for approval the National Planning on the system of fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050; consider and request the Government and the National Assembly to pay attention and prioritize the allocation of capital sources to invest in the construction, upgrading and completion of fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels according to the planning, creating favorable conditions for fishing vessels to enter ports and improving production efficiency for fishermen.

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