Strengthening coordination between localities in combating IUU fishing

(Quang Binh Portal) - On the morning of August 9, 2024, in Da Nang city, the People's Committees of provinces and cities from Thanh Hoa to Khanh Hoa coordinated to organize a conference to review the coordination regulations between the People's Committees of 11 provinces/cities in the management of fishing vessels operating in aquatic exploitation.

Vice Chairman of Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee Phan Phong Phu co-chaired the conference with Deputy Director of the Fisheries Surveillance Department Nguyen Phu Quoc (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Vice Chairman of Da Nang City People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong and leaders of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee.

Implementing the coordination regulations between the People's Committees of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh , Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa provinces and Da Nang city in the management of fishing vessels operating in aquatic exploitation, localities have resolutely deployed and promptly issued many documents directing relevant departments, branches, localities and units to focus resources to resolve existing problems and limitations in the work of combating IUU fishing and achieved some results, in which it has created high consensus and drastic actions in all levels, sectors, fishing communities, businesses and consensus of the whole society in implementing legal provisions and regulations on combating IUU fishing. The management of fishing vessels has changed significantly, the number of vessels in each locality and registered fishing vessel data have been fully updated in the National database on fishing vessels; Review, monitor and manage the current status of fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for fishing activities; over 98% of fishing vessels (11,990/12,209 fishing vessels) install VMS voyage monitoring equipment; monitor and supervise fishing vessel activities at sea 24/24 hours, promptly detect and coordinate to handle fishing vessels that lose connection and exceed the permitted fishing boundaries at sea. The work of tracing the origin of aquatic products has been focused on and controlled in chains; fully update information into the National database on administrative sanctions in the field of fisheries to create comprehensive data to serve law enforcement work...

Quang Binh is a province with a fairly developed fishing industry, with 3,969 actual fishing vessels of 06m or more, of which 1,171 are 15m or more, 309 are 12 - 15m, 2,489 are 06 - 12m. The province has 03 fishing ports with a capacity of 100 vessels/day, 46,000 tons/year (Song Gianh type II 50 vessels/day, 22,000 tons/year; Nhat Le port type II 30 vessels/day, 15,000 tons/year, Seafood Market - Quang Phuc ward wharf type III 20 vessels/day, 9,000 tons/year) meeting about 30% of actual demand. The Provincial Party Standing Committee and Provincial People's Committee have paid great attention to and closely directed the work of combating IUU fishing in the province, contributing to removing the yellow card of the European Commission (EC), developing sustainable and integrated fisheries.

At the conference, Quang Binh province requested the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and cities to preside over and coordinate with the Border Guard force to strengthen inspection, control, and handling of fishing vessels at high risk of IUU fishing in Quang Binh province and inform the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Binh province to coordinate in managing and closely monitoring this group of vessels.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Director of the Fisheries Control Department Nguyen Phu Quoc emphasized that the work of combating IUU fishing and removing the EC's yellow card is a task that requires the joint efforts and coordination of ministries, branches, units, localities and fishermen nationwide; in the control work, fishing ports are responsible for accessing the VMS system to confirm and control the origin, arrival and departure status of ships. Along with that, he also directed localities to propose coordination regulations with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on coordinating the handling of violating ships between the inshore and offshore areas; assess the entire VMS disconnection rate of suppliers to have a basis for verification and handling; urgently review and check the registration and inspection licenses of fishing vessels according to regulations, promptly notify ship owners to quickly register new licenses...

Correspondent Ly Cong Toan

Source: https://quangbinh.gov.vn/chi-tiet-tin-1/-/view-article/1/13848241113627/1723196868622