Heavy fines for illegal undertakings in foreign waters

Stiff fines for multiple illegal undertakings in foreign waters

1,976 vessels belonging to Ben Tre fishing fleet are subject to the installation of monitoring equipment, of which 98.41% is completed, and 100% for over 24m long vessels.

Such installation has assisted the competent forces’ detection of 72 violation cases since September 2019. The vessels’ owners were forced to commit to no recidivism.

Along with that, the patrol, inspection, control, and violation handling were strengthened and reorganized, thanks to which 31 violation cases have been detected and over VND 800m fines have been imposed.

Last year, Ben Tre handled 10 cases of illegal undertakings in foreign waters, declining from 21 a year earlier (52.4%). 9 vessel owners had to pay VND 7.4b in fines.

According to Mr. Doan Van Danh, Director of Ben Tre Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province’s fisheries sector accounted for about 60% of the broader agricultural sector. It has generated employment for a majority of people living in coastal areas. Recently, several Ben Tre fishing vessels undertook illegal fishing in foreign waters. Since the European Commission issued a yellow card to the country’s seafood industry, elimination of such undertakings is ordered, to ensure future exportation of seafood from the province and the country in general to European and other foreign markets. This concerns the fisheries sector, the agricultural sector as well as provincial leaders.

Fishermen’s heightened awareness

1,976 vessels belonging to Ben Tre fishing fleet are subject to the installation of monitoring equipment, of which 98.41% is completed, and 100% for over 24m long vessels.

Currently, more than 1,000 offshore fishing boats in Binh Dai district are subject to the installation of monitoring equipment. Resulted from the IEC work (information, education, and communication), local fishermen have almost completed such installation. According to the management board of Binh Dai fishing port, fishermen have got used to logbooks, equipment, and been cooperative. Thus, the district has witnessed no violation case lately.

Meanwhile, Binh Thang commune has 542 vessels, 518 of which operates offshore, and almost all are well equipped, except a few that are lying on the shore, burnt, sunk, sold, or not registered. Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai, Chairman of the Communal People's Council said, the Committee, the Fisheries Department, the Division of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Cua Dai Border Guard are working cooperatively on educating fishermen about the Law on Fisheries, and timely detecting and handling cases in which vessels are transferred via brokers to illegal fish in foreign waters. Besides, vessels owners are made to commit not to let their captains and crews violate regulations.

Mr. Vo Nguyen Minh Tam, a reconnaissance officer at Cua Dai border station, said: Thanks to the IEC work, the fishermen here respond very well towards regulations. Last year, only one young inexperienced helmsman steered the vessel in Malaysian water, but came right back when we called to warn him. Furthermore, many captains, when uncertain about coordinates or approaching the border, actively call Mr. Tam’s force to get clarified. They only allow the crew to fish when they are sure they are in our waters. This first month of the year, 5 calls were made, Mr. Tam added.

Mr. Pham Van Sang, the owner of two fishing vessels in Binh Dai district said: “I don’t steer my vessels, only monitoring their operation via devices. Whenever my vessels get near the border, I call the crew immediately to prevent trespass. I learnt that once a violation is committed, heavy fines will be handed out, let alone future consequences. We all have to be responsible to remove the yellow card.”