December 25, 2024 | 09:02 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Saturday- 22:17, 09/07/2022

Fishing vessels IUU violations cause headache to authorities

(VAN) Despite numerous measures having been taken to prevent fishing vessels from encroaching on foreign waters, Binh Dinh province has not yet been able to completely handle the issue to remove the IUU 'yellow card.
Binh Dinh functional forces inspect the activities of a fishing boat. Photo: Vu Dinh Thung.

Binh Dinh functional forces inspect the activities of a fishing boat. Photo: Vu Dinh Thung.

According to the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province, since the beginning of this year, 5 fishing boats mainly from Phu Cat district with 30 laborers on board have been seized by Malaysian authorities for fishing and infringing in waters of Malaysia.In addition, 2 more other fishing boats and 10 laborers were also captured by Malaysian authorities while operating in sea. The seafood was confiscated before the boats were released at sea.

Some very small vessels with a length of less than 15m that were only allowed to fish near the inland or in coastal areas according to regulations, had been even caught fishing offshore in foreign waters.

According to Binh Dinh province's People's Committee, local fishing boats violations were being detained by Malaysian authorities, so it was not possible to make a file for handling. For example, fishing boat BD 30111 TS of Huynh Cong Hung in Duc Pho 1 hamlet, Cat Minh commune (Phu Cat district) which had a capacity of only 55CV and 12.6m length and did not install a cruise monitoring device, had been seized by Malaysian authorities with the seafood confiscated before released it at sea.

The Committee had directed the Provincial Border Guard Command to detain the boat and handle the issues according to regulations after it returns to shore and report the case to the Border Guard Command for further investigation.

A boat of Binh Dinh functional force patrols at sea. Photo: Vu Dinh Thung.

A boat of Binh Dinh functional force patrols at sea. Photo: Vu Dinh Thung.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh, Standing Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh province's People's Committee, in recent times, the province had administratively sanctioned 24 violating fishing boats with fines worth about VND21,640 billion, It confiscated and liquidated 2 vessels to collect VND318 million for the State budget.

The situation of fishing boats and fishermen encroaching on foreign waters in recent years has decreased, but more or less still occurs.

Statistics show that since 2018, most of the violating fishing vessels have a length of less than 15m and have been at sea for many years without returning home. This has hindered efforts to solve the IUU "yellow card" issues.

Over the past time, although the People’s Committee of Binh Dinh province and functional sectors have proposed many policies and solutions to prevent and stop the situation of fishing vessels violating foreign waters, such as: propagandizing to mobilize fishing boat owners, fishermen make a commitment not to violate foreign waters; supporting the installation of cruise monitoring equipment; maintain and strictly control fishing vessels leaving and entering berths; organize patrol and control of assigned sea areas; issue decisions to sanction administrative violations of fishing vessels. However, there are still cases of fishing vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters, greatly affecting the remedy of the “yellow card” of the European Commission.

Recently, Binh Dinh province has sent a written request to the Ministry of National Defense to direct the strengthening of law enforcement forces in the overlapping seas to promptly warn and prevent Vietnamese fishing vessels in general and Binh Dinh fishing vessels in particular.  If there are signs of infringing upon foreign waters, the forces should promptly notify local authorities to make a dossier of handling according to regulations.

For more than 400 fishing boats of Binh Dinh that have not returned to the locality for a long time, the People's Committee asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to direct the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and localities where the above-mentioned fishing vessels are anchoring and operating to strengthen dissemination for fishermen not to fish infringing foreign waters at the same time strengthen management, control, and handling of IUU violations.

"The Ministry of Public Security is requested to direct the police forces in the southern provinces to enforce investigations, verify and set up a special project to fight with brokers to support fishing boats illegally working out in foreign waters," said Mr. Thanh.

Moreover, the official of Binh Dinh province also recommended the MARD soon develop a regulation on fishing vessel management in coordination with law enforcement forces at sea. He requested the Border Guard Command to direct border guards in the provinces from Binh Thuan to Kien Giang to strengthen inspection, control, detect promptly and handle fishing vessels showing signs of violations.

Author: Vu Dinh Thung

Translated by Linh Nguyen

Panel rules in favor of US in GM corn dispute

Panel rules in favor of US in GM corn dispute

(VAN) With Mexico accounting for nearly 50% of total US corn export sales annually, US corn growers hailed the decision as a major victory.

Women in West Bengal’s Jhargram take on patriarchy-  by growing their own organic paddy

Women in West Bengal’s Jhargram take on patriarchy- by growing their own organic paddy

(VAN) Thousands of women in West Bengal’s Jhargram district have set up a farmer producer company, Aamon, cultivating indigenous varieties of paddy without using lab-made fertilizsers.

How sustainable food producers are shaping the future of agriculture in Saudi Arabia

How sustainable food producers are shaping the future of agriculture in Saudi Arabia

(VAN) Achieving food security and sustainability is a top priority for Saudi Arabia as it works toward building a more inclusive economy.

Tien Giang urges investment to encourage development of coconut industry

Tien Giang urges investment to encourage development of coconut industry

(VAN) Tien Giang province is actively inviting domestic and international investors to explore opportunities in its burgeoning coconut industry, which boasts significant untapped potential.

Xi urges deepening rural reform, building up strength in agriculture

Xi urges deepening rural reform, building up strength in agriculture

(VAN) Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged further deepening rural reform and making solid advances toward the goal of building up China's strength in agriculture.

Alarming soil degradation in the Central Highlands: Solutions to improve soil health

Alarming soil degradation in the Central Highlands: Solutions to improve soil health

(VAN) Recovering degraded soil is a prolonged, enduring process that demands solutions on mechanisms, policies, infrastructure investment, science technology and agricultural extension, etc.

Cooperatives are the ‘key’ to restructuring agriculture

Cooperatives are the ‘key’ to restructuring agriculture

(VAN) It can be affirmed that cooperatives are a key factor in helping Dong Thap Province restructure its agricultural sector, aiming for sustainable production and adaptation to market demands.

Read more