Khanh Hoa aims to eliminate illegal fishing vessels by the end of May

Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee has recently issued an action plan to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; the province is also preparing to coordinate with the European Commission's Inspection Team during their second visit to Khanh Hoa.

According to the action plan, Khanh Hoa province aims to synchronously, effectively and efficiently implement the legal provisions on fisheries; overcome the shortcomings and limitations based on the EC's recommendations regarding anti-IUU fishing, in an attempto to remove the "yellow card" warning in 2023.

Furthermore, the action plan will unify awareness, actions and participation across the political system in an effort to prevent and control IUU fishing. Heads of party committees, party organizations and administrations from relevant departments, agencies, sectors and localities will directly lead, and take responsibility for IUU fishing prevention and control. The removal of the "yellow card" has been considered as a political, priority, and urgent task.

Additionally, a plan will be established to manage the exploitation and sustainable development of the fisheries sector; raise the international position, image and responsibility of Vietnam in the implementation of international commitments and treaties with regards to the protection of the marine environment and sustainable marine ecosystems; contribute to ensuring national defense and security as well as sovereignty over national seas and islands.

Consequently, Khanh Hoa province has set out multiple tasks and solutions to review and record the total number of local fishing vessels, finalize the registration, marking, and licensing of fishing vessels, complete the installation of vessel monitorning systems (VMS) according to regulations. Update the entire fishing vessel data into the national fisheries database (VNFishbase).

The province will compile a list of fishing vessels not engaged in fishing as well as vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing; the list will subsequently be sent to relevant authorities, and specialized units will be assigned to monitor and manage said vessels. On the other hand, Khanh Hoa aims to inspect and control all fishing vessels entering and leaving the sea border posts/stations and fishing port in accordance with regulations. Consequently, all fishing vessels will be monitored closely to ensure that their VMS equipment remains in operation from when they leave the port to when they arrive at the port; All fishing vessels operating at sea will be placed under 24/7 monitoring and surveillance with the assistance of the fishing vessel monitoring system.

In addition, the local government will develop a coordination regime between different provinces to control local fishing vessels operating in areas outside the province, fishing vessels from other provinces docked for certification. A local Fisheries Surveillance Force will be promptly established under the provisions of the 2017 Fisheries Law and the Law on Organization of Local Governments.

The certification of traceability for caught seafood will be implemented according to the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, ensuring all records of shipments exported to the European market as well as other markets meet the traceability requirements for exploited aquatic products.

Moreover, Khanh Hoa will review sites where fishing vessels frequently dock and unload products such as fishing wharfs, fishing ports, and so on, to organize the monitoring of locally unloaded catches. Subsequently, the province will ensure that fishing vessels of at least 15 meters in length must dock at designated ports; the vessel owner must provide a notice 01 hour in advance when docking at the port as well as record and submit the fishing log as per regulations; compare and ensure that the information in the fishing log are consistent with the fishing vessel monitoring's data.

Khanh Hoa will deploy human resources at fishing ports, seaports and Fisheries Surveillance Offices at fishing ports to ensure the inspection and control of fishing vessels as well as aquatic products from domestic exploitation and importation; connect the imported fishery products control system software with the National Single Window Portal; control imported fishery products in full compliance with the provisions of the Agreement on Port State Measures; produce solutions to strictly control imported fishery products into Vietnam through container ships.

Regarding law enforcement and handling of violations, Khanh Hoa province is determined to stop fishing vessels violating in foreign waters; investigate and handle all cases of Vietnamese fishing vessels being arrested by foreign countries, handle and sanction all cases of illegal fishing in foreign waters and update information on the mass media; Investigate, consolidate records, and prosecute cases of brokering and linking Vietnamese fishing vessels to illegally fish in foreign waters; the prosecution will also serve as a deterrence.

The province will organize patrols during peak seasons to control and strictly penalize IUU fishing activities according to regulations; verify and handle all fishing vessels that do not maintain the connection of vessel monitoring equipment as prescribed; update the results of the sanctioning of IUU fishing activities into the software system to monitor and manage administrative violations in the fisheries sector.

Additionally, Khanh Hoa province will inspect, examine and strictly handle designated fishing ports, vessel monitoring equipment suppliers, businesses, organizations and individuals involved in the fight against IUU fishing.

According to the action plan, Khanh Hoa province will carry out an information and communication campaign across the province to ensure transparency regarding the province's efforts to combat IUU fishing. The province will also diversify its forms of information dissemination and training provided to the fishing community, relevant organizations and individuals regarding regulations on anti-IUU fishing; develop mechanisms and policies to support fishing vessel owners with satellite subscription fees to maintain the operation of VMS equipment.