Encouraging fishermen to protect the aquatic environment

In recent years, local fishermen using large-capacity vessels to exploit the coastal areas of Quang Binh has been quite common. This has caused the coastal waters to be depleted of seafood, seriously threatening the environment.

Faced with such a problem, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development advised the Provincial People's Committee to strengthen publicity and education measures for fishermen. The patrol, detection and handling of violations are also to be carried out regularly and strictly.

From the beginning of May, fishing in the coastal waters of Quang Binh province has been on the increase. This violates regulations on the protection of aquatic resources and coastal fishing grounds as prescribed by law.

According to Mr. Le Van Loi, Deputy Director of Quang Binh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the sector has asked coastal districts, towns and cities to direct authorities at all levels to strengthen measures to protect the marine environment.

“We also regularly organize forces to patrol fishermen and encourage those from outside the province to strictly observe regulations on the protection of aquatic resources, inshore fishing grounds and Covid-19 prevention," Mr. Loi said.

On the first day of the month, over 100 fishing vessels of H.T gathered to catch seafood in the coastal waters of Quang Xuan and Canh Duong communes (Quang Trach district).

As noted by the local functional forces, most of the vessels did not have a registered number.

Mr. Le Van Thao, Head of Legal and Inspection of the Fisheries Sub-Department (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), said, “These groups of fishing vessels travel in clusters and organize personnel to dive for clams, shellfish, young lobsters, etc. in the sea about 6 nautical miles from shore. Many vessels also exploit close to shore, only about 100-200m from the coast.

The Legal - Inspection Department has organized a force paired with fishing vessels from neighboring provinces to work with determination and ingenuity.

The working group raises fishermen's awareness and encourages them not to catch seafood in the coastal waters of Quang Binh province while also disseminating the Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control information.

After three rounds of patrols and mobilization, illegal fishing near the shore of Quang Binh has finally ended.

Along with the above tasks, functional forces in Quang Binh have excelled in preventing the trawler from illegal exploitation.

While patrolling the coastal waters of Hai Phu commune (Bo Trach district), the forces of the Fisheries Sub-Department discovered two vessels from outside the province exhibiting signs of fishing in the wrong waters.

These two vessels bore the numbers BV-1230-TS, captained by Mr. Cao Van Thach, and BT-95479-TS, owned by Mr. Nguyen Nam Han (residing in La Gi town, Binh Thuan province).

The owners of the two fishing vessels admitted that they were preparing to explore the fishing grounds to farm oysters when they were found by the functional forces.

Through inspection, the inspection force of the Fisheries Sub-Department discovered that the owners of the two fishing vessels did not have degrees, certificates and did not register the fishing vessels as regulated.

The functional force made a record of administrative sanctioning of 2 fishing vessels with a fine of 16 million VND and asked the fishing vessel to leave the coastal waters fishing ground.

Mr. Le Van Thao, Head of the Legal-Inspection Department, Sub-Department of Fisheries, said that the promotion for the implementation of measures to prevent and handle violations of the protection of aquatic resources in Quang Binh is quite challenging.

However, these activities have since been controlled and progress has been made towards stopping the use of explosives, electrical pulses and toxic substances for illegal fishing. "We actively communicate and encourage fishermen to well-oppose illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing," Mr. Thao said.

Another important task has also been promoted by the Sub-Department of Fisheries. It is to organize for fishermen to preserve the marine environment. In addition to not discarding solid waste such as plastic items into the sea, each fishing vessel is equipped with a garbage basket.

When at sea, fishermen finding garbage will pick it up to be put into a garbage basket, then to be transported to a treatment facility after the vessels have docked.

Fisherman Ngo Van Hoa (Bao Ninh commune, Dong Hoi city) said, "We carry out this campaign to clean up the marine environment and preserve aquatic resources for the common good".