Investment in upgrading fishing ports is necessary and urgent

Binh Dinh province acknowledged that upgrading fishing ports is a sufficient condition to remove EC's yellow card

Acknowledging the need to invest in upgrading fishing ports in the province to meet EC's request to remove the IUU 'yellow card', in mid-2019, Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development advised the Provincial People's Committee to report on the implementation of the public investment plan for the period of 2016-2020 and an estimated 5-year medium-term public investment demand (2021-2025), report on proposals for investment policies in irrigation and fishery projects registered to use the capital from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the period of 2021 - 2025.

In which, the project of a storm shelter for fishing vessels combined with Tam Quan fishing port (Hoai Nhon town) is the top priority project in the fisheries sector with a total investment of 472 billion VND. 90% of which is from the central funding (equivalent to 425 billion VND), the other 10% is from provincial budget (equivalent to 47 billion VND).

The project will renovate Tam Quan fishing port infrastructure to meet the standards of a class I fishing port. Form 11 logistics service areas to meet the needs of fishing vessels regularly as well as when anchoring and sheltering from storms.This is the premise for the development of marine economy in Hoai Nhon commune and Binh Dinh province.

Renovate and expand mooring area to reach regional level, create a mooring area with enough space for 2,000 vessels with a capacity of 400 - 1,000CV to shelter from storms, ensure the safety of people and properties of Binh Dinh and the central region fishermen during the rainy and stormy season.

“The project combines the development of logistics services for sea voyages, helping fishermen feel safe in their production in remote waters. Improve monitoring capacity and support fishing vessel tracking equipment for fishermen. Support management capacity for the construction and development of the tuna chain in Binh Dinh province. Improve capacity for environmental monitoring and surveillance in aquaculture”, shared Mr. Tran Van Phuc, Director of Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Also according to Mr. Phuc, Binh Dinh's agriculture sector is also planning a project of a storm shelter for fishing boats in De Gi lagoon combined with De Gi fishing port (Phu Cat district) with a total investment of 450 billion VND. 90% of which is from central funding (equivalent to 405 billion VND), 10% is from provincial budget (equivalent to 45 billion VND).

The project will build a storm shelter for fishing vessels in De Gi lagoon to reach regional scale, create a mooring area with enough space for over 2,000 vessels with a capacity of 300 - 1,000 CV, including the following items: Construct embankments to protect the shore, prevent sedimentation of the anchorage area, combine with a 2,500m long berth; build sand embankments to prevent landslides and protect the 900m long De Gi entrance channel.

The project also conducts dredging of the running channel and mooring area with width, height to ensure vessels with a capacity of 1,000CV, over 15m in length can circulate and dock. Build mooring posts to ensure safe anchoring for vessels with a capacity of up to 1,000CV.

In addition, the project will build a system of entrance light poles, bridge and dike lights, buoys and signal poles to ensure the safety of ships when entering and exiting the mooring area and an emergency rescue communication system.

Phu Yen has ambitions for a dedicated tuna port with an auction market

Phu Yen, the birthplace of tuna fishing, is struggling to associate this profession with the planning of fishing ports. Mr. Nguyen Tri Phuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the Phu Yen Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 99 on the master plan to develop Phu Yen fisheries towards 2025, with a vision to 2030. Accordingly, Phu Yen will have 7 class III fishing ports, 3 grade II fishing ports, 1 grade I fishing port and 7 mooring areas to shelter from storms for fishing vessels, including 1 region-scale mooring area.

Also according to Mr. Phuong, in order to ensure the implementation of recommendations by the European Commission on IUU and at the same time, create conditions for fishing vessels to anchor safely and conveniently to shelter from storms, load and unload goods at fishing ports, ensure food safety and environmental sanitation, Phu Yen province proposed the Central Government support to upgrade Dong Tac fishing port into a dedicated tuna port and tuna auction market in Phu Yen province with a total investment of about 219 billions VND.

Additionally, Phu Yen also invested in a mooring area to shelter from storms in Lach Hoa Hiep Nam (Dong Hoa town) associated with Phu Lac fishing port, with a total investment of about 80 billion VND; Lach An Hai storm shelter mooring area (Tuy An district) associated with Le Thinh fishing port with a total investment of about 80 billion VND and Lach Van Cui storm shelter mooring area for fishing vessels (Tuy An district) with a total investment of about 120 billion VND associated with Tien Chau fishing port.

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Tri Phuong, the current limitation of fishing ports in Phu Yen is that the canals are filled and narrow, making it difficult for vessels to travel in and out, but dredging has not yet been completed. The reason is that the provincial budget is still difficult and has not been arranged for the needs of dredging channels and fishing ports.

Meanwhile, dredging in the form of socialization is facing many challenges with current regulations. In addition, storm shelter mooring areas are also narrow, without anchoring and auxiliary works, fishermen face many troubles in the rainy season.

Quang Nam attracts businesses to invest in fishing ports

Faced with the situation that fisheries infrastructure is still unable to meet the needs of anchoring and unloading catches in the locality, Quang Nam province has specific solutions to overcome. Accordingly, in the near future, Quang Nam will have a mechanism to attract domestic and foreign investment to form a regional fisheries center in Tam Quang (Nui Thanh district) and Hong Trieu fisheries center in Duy Nghia commune (Duy Xuyen district).

Quang Nam will attract businesses and investors to participate in the construction and management of fishing port infrastructure; storm shelter mooring areas for fishing vessels; works to serve the production and business of fishing ports in accordance with the law, such as: ice factories, petrol stations to supply fishing vessels.

In addition, promote the application of new science and technology in the construction and maintenance of fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels; increase the rate of mechanization and industrialization in activities, especially in cargo handling, preservation and preliminary processing of aquatic products at fishing ports.

Regarding the investment capital solution, Quang Nam implements investment encouragement policy in accordance with the law to attract capital from all economic sectors to invest in projects listed with priority calling for investment in accordance with the planning and profitable infrastructure projects such as: concentrated processing zone infrastructure, construct cold storage, service area for ​​fishing gear, machinery and equipment, ice factores, petrol stations…”, said Mr. Ho Quang Buu, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee.

According to Dang Kim Cuong, Director of Ninh Thuan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the upgrading of the fishing port system is to first remove the "yellow card" by the European Commission as directed by of the Prime Minister. Secondly, develop Ninh Thuan's marine economy towards 2025, with a vision to 2030. The upgrading of the fishing port system meets the actual needs of the locality, balancing the policy of developing fishing vessels with a high capacity and fishing port infrastructure, ensure quality and improve value of seafood products, while gradually modernize in the fisheries sector.