Suggest Thanh Hoa correct weaknesses in implementing the fight against IUU fishing

Many fishing vessels lost connections

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), after more than 6 years and through five inspections by the Anti-IUU Fishing Delegation, the results of implementing the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) seafood exploitation in many localities have changed very slowly. The shortcomings and limitations have not been overcome. The guidance of the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU has not been seriously implemented.

Specifically, Thanh Hoa province has not yet completed the registration and issuance of seafood exploitation licenses. There are still 57 “three no” (unregistered, unlicensed for exploitation, not inspected) fishing vessels. This number is even higher than it is in reality. There are 238 vessels whose licenses have not yet been issued or have expired. Inspecting fishing vessels according to regulations only reaches more than 72%.

100% of fishing vessels install cruise monitoring equipment, but the number of losing connections is large and occurs regularly. Accordingly, the number of fishing vessels losing connection for over 6 months is 377. Since the beginning of 2023, there have been 362 ships losing connection for more than 10 days at sea and repeatedly violating, such as ship TH-93786-TS (3 times), ship TH-92666-TS (4 times), and ship TH-9333-Dr.

Besides, local implementation has not yet ensured regulations on controlling fishing vessels. Monitoring output loaded and unloaded through the port only reaches 20% of the province's fishing vessel activities. The province's monitored seafood output is at a very low level.

The work of enforcing the law and verifying and handling IUU fishing violations is still limited compared to violation cases. Accordingly, only 49% of the number of violations of disconnecting cruise monitoring equipment has been verified and handled. Of which, 21 ships were only disseminated and reminded, and 10 cases were fined. Violations of fishing logs and the situation of fishing vessels exploiting the wrong waters occur quite frequently, but few are fined.

The delegation’s inspection results also showed that recording fishing logs did not ensure the time and location of exploitation. Especially transshipment activities at sea do not meet regulations on fishing logs, purchase and transshipment logs, and the time and location of purchase and transshipment at sea. Verifying and handling IUU fishing violations at the port is still very limited.

Attach responsibility to the head

According to the National Steering Committee on IUU, Thanh Hoa province is one of the key localities at the EC’s 5th inspection. Therefore, in order not to affect the country's efforts to remove the "yellow card" warning, MARD requested the Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee to focus resources, lead and direct the implementation of anti-IUU fishing tasks, and completely resolve current problems and limitations.

“Seriously and effectively implement the guidance of the Standing Secretariat, the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister's Official Telegram on implementing solutions to combat IUU fishing. Attach responsibility to heads of party committees, governments at all levels, and functional forces; resolutely handle the responsibility of organizations and individuals that do not fulfill assigned responsibilities and tasks. Timely encourage and reward good examples in combating IUU fishing," the document that MARD sent to Thanh Hoa province clearly stated.

MARD also requested the Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee to chair a meeting with the locality’s relevant departments, branches, and functional forces to rectify and clarify the responsibility of relevant organizations and individuals that continue to experience shortcomings, limitations, and weaknesses in implementing assigned tasks. Organize delegations directly directed by provincial leaders to check the responsibility of responsible units at fishing ports. Create a list to closely monitor the groups of "three no" fishing vessels, ships at high risk of violating IUU fishing, and ships not eligible for seafood exploitation.

Open a peak period of law enforcement from now until April 2024 in patrolling, inspecting, and controlling fishing vessels entering and exiting ports and fishing wharves. Resolutely and strictly handle IUU fishing violations.

“If there are incidents of unqualified ships still entering and existing ports and participating in exploitation activities, leading to IUU fishing violations, the responsibility lies with the province’s functional forces, of which first of all is the Border Guard. Especially, be determined not to let local fishing vessels violate illegal seafood exploitation in foreign waters," the directive document clearly stated.

MARD also requested Thanh Hoa province to continue improving its fisheries infrastructure and prioritize allocating enough resources for local seafood management agencies and relevant functional forces to carry out their tasks of combating IUU fishing.

Talking about implementing MARD’s guidance, Mr. Nguyen Duc Cuong, Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed the Sub-Department of Fisheries to establish 3 delegations to directly coordinate with local government, Border Guard forces, and each household in mobilizing fishermen to comply with the seafood exploitation according to the law. Appoint officers to assist people in inspecting fishing vessels. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has also sent a document to localities to strengthen monitoring, statistics, and reporting of catch output according to regulations.