2,500 ships appearing out of nowhere gave Kien Giang a ‘headache’

More than 2,500 new-built fishing vessels suddenly appeared

According to Mr. Quang Trong Thao, Deputy Director of Kien Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, a document has been sent to districts and cities in the province concerning the situation of new fishing vessels that are not built in accordance with regulations.

Through the review of the fisheries sector in recent years, more than 2,500 new fishing vessels have been built without written approval from the competent authority.

Most of these spontaneously built fishing vessels are small, wooden-hulled fishing vessels operating in coastal areas. If the situation is not completely resolved, aquatic resources will suffer great pressure, not to mention the local authorities’ difficulties in management.

The report from Kien Giang Sub-Department of Fisheries shows that the total number of registered fishing vessels in the province at the moment is 9,177, including 3,942 fishing vessels of 6 m to less than 12 m long, 1,544 fishing vessels of 12 m to under 15 m long, are 3,691 fishing vessels with the length of 15 m or more.

Aiming to well manage the fishing fleet, since April 2021, Kien Giang People's Committee has decided to issue specific criteria for building, renting and buying fishing vessels in the province. Accordingly, the province does not allow the construction of new fishing vessels until the end of December 31, 2024. After this period, fishermen will be allowed to build new fishing vessels operating on high seas if the number of quotas the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development assigned to the province is guaranteed.

In June 2022 the People's Committee of Kien Giang province issued regulations on the management of fishing activities as well as the protection and development of aquatic resources. The People's Committees of districts and cities were assigned to develop plans to prevent the appearance of new fishing vessels that are not built according to regulations.

Despite many efforts, shipyards are still operating in many localities, and many fishermen are still quietly investing in building new fishing vessels even without written approval from the government.

Preventing fishing vessels from violating foreign waters

Since the beginning of this year Kien Giang has not had any fishing vessels arrested for fishing violations in foreign waters. However, IUU fishing violations in domestic waters still occur. While monitoring fishing activities from the shore management station through the vessel monitoring system (VMS), the Sub-Department of Fisheries has made 53 calls to 49 fishing vessels crossing the sea boundary. After receiving the call, 45 fishing vessels returned to Vietnamese waters to operate. The remaining 4 ships crossing the sea boundary were issued warning documents.

The functional force has also made 3,406 calls to 944 fishing vessels that lost connection at sea. According to the report, 883 fishing vessels turned on the VMS device in response to the call of the local functional fore,  and 62 fishing vessels that lost connection at sea for 10 days or more received a total of 29 notices.

Inspectors of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Sub-department of Fisheries Control, the Border Guard Command, and the Coast Guard Command Region 4 have coordinated to open many peak patrol and control missions at sea and have handled fishing vessels violating IUU fishing regulations.

The force under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development made a record and issued a decision to sanction administrative violations for 16 cases, with a total fine of VND 373 million. The provincial Border Guard Command investigated and handled 14 cases and proposed the provincial People's Committee issue a decision to impose a fine of VND 444 million. The border guard stations fined VND 229 million and confiscated 44 sets of electric generators used for illegal fishing activities. The Coast Guard Command Region 4 made a record and decided to sanction administrative violations of 128 cases for 28 fishing vessels, with a total fine of VND 387 million.