There are still cases of fishing boats and fishermen deliberately violating foreign waters.

BTO-According to the report of the Ministry of National Defense on the situation and results of combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the third quarter of 2023, the situation of fishing vessels being arrested and handled by foreign countries has decreased compared to the second quarter, but the nature is still complicated.

The situation of fishing vessels violating foreign waters remains complicated (photo: N. Lan)

According to the Ministry of National Defense, the number of fishing vessels and fishermen detained and handled by foreign countries decreased compared to the second quarter. However, the nature of violations is complicated, notably, intentional violations still occur, such as: People on fishing vessels do not have professional certificates as prescribed; Disabling VMS equipment or removing or sending VMS equipment to other fishing vessels to exploit seafood in the wrong area, route or violating foreign waters; Using fake license plates to violate foreign waters; When arrested, they committed dangerous acts of resistance, causing serious consequences.

Offshore fishing vessel (photo: N. Lan)

In the third quarter, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand arrested 12 ships/102 fishermen, a decrease of 3 ships/23 fishermen compared to the second quarter of 2023, of which 8 ships/49 fishermen were using fake license plates that have not been verified yet. Notably, there was 1 incident/1 fishing boat ( Kien Giang province) when being arrested by Malaysia, our fishermen used weapons to attack back, injuring 1 Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Officer, Malaysian authorities opened fire, injuring 4 Vietnamese fishermen. In addition, China arrested 3 fishing boats/20 fishermen violating Chinese waters in the Gulf of Tonkin, and handed over 2 ships/13 fishermen to the Vietnam Coast Guard; China and Cambodia controlled, prevented, and took property of 11 fishing boats in the waters of the Hoang Sa archipelago and historical waters.

Provincial Border Guards coordinate to increase patrols at sea (photo: N. Lan)

Faced with that situation, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang recently directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee on IUU), relevant ministries, branches and localities to study the information in the above report of the Ministry of National Defense. According to the assigned functions and tasks, closely coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to direct strict and timely handling of organizations and individuals who intentionally violate the law on combating IUU fishing. In addition, the Ministry of National Defense is required, based on the results achieved in the past time, to proactively coordinate with relevant ministries, branches and People's Committees of 28 coastal provinces and centrally run cities to continue to strictly implement the directions of the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU related to combating IUU fishing. Continue to carry out peak patrols, inspections and controls in the border, overlapping and undemarcated sea areas between Vietnam and other countries to promptly prevent and handle fishing vessels illegally exploiting seafood, determined to put an end to the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters.

Binh Thuan has prepared the best conditions if the EC inspection team comes to work.

After receiving the dispatch from the Government Office, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee promptly issued a document requesting the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development together with the Provincial Border Guard Command, the Provincial Police, relevant departments, branches and localities to thoroughly grasp the direction of the Prime Minister in the above dispatch. Proactively organize and seriously implement, achieving results the tasks assigned to the locality; in case of exceeding authority, advise the Provincial People's Committee to direct the implementation according to regulations.

It is known that the EC inspection team has arrived in Vietnam and will work from October 10 to 18, 2023. This is the fourth inspection by the EC since Vietnam was warned with the IUU "yellow card". Localities will not be notified in advance about the location of the inspection, so Binh Thuan has prepared the best conditions if the EC inspection team comes to work.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/van-con-tinh-trang-tau-ca-ngu-dan-co-tinh-xam-pham-vung-bien-nuoc-ngoai-113879.html