Sustainable and responsible fisheries: Orientation for an ocean economic center

Balance between exploitation and conservation

Currently, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has a total of 4,345 fishing vessels, of which 2,623 operate in offshore areas, 610 vessels in nearshore areas, and 1,112 vessels in coastal areas. Recently, fishing output has been decreasing significantly. The reason is said to be that fishing areas are more limited and aquatic resources are exhausted.

It can be said that the IUU "yellow card" is an opportunity for coastal localities like Ba Ria-Vung Tau to reconsider their fisheries development direction. That is the clearest evidence of inharmonious development if only focusing on exploitation.

Mr. Huynh Son Thai, Director of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the province has implemented policy mechanisms to encourage investment in developing the offshore fishing fleet and implemented the structure and reorganization of fishing vessels in the direction of reducing the trawling profession according to planning.

"The agricultural sector has also proactively disseminated to raise awareness and responsibility for fishermen when fishing and following a sustainable direction. Fishermen are also trained, supported, and encouraged to change their fishing profession from drag nets to seine nets, and squid fishing, etc.," said Mr. Thai.

To ensure legally exploited seafood sources, dissemination work to raise awareness for fishermen in the fight against IUU fishing is focused on promoting by the entire political system of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. Since 2022, no fishing vessel from the province has violated foreign waters. The rate of fishing vessels equipped with cruise monitoring equipment and recording fishing logs is over 97%.

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Minh Duc, Chief of Ben Da Border Guard Station, said that fishermen are forced to comply with the orders of the Border Guard and Fisheries Surveillance forces regarding full paperwork, only fishing in their own waters, and complying with the State's regulations.

"In recent times, the unit has coordinated and well implemented the work of mobilizing the masses and controlling fishing vessels, so the awareness of fishermen when fishing at sea and not violating foreign waters has been improved significantly," said Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Minh Duc.

The Provincial Fisheries Association is proposing to apply a sea ban period for each area so that aquatic resources can be protected and promptly revived.

"Pivot" to aquaculture

Mr. Nguyen Cong Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial People's Committee, said that the province is striving to become a national ocean economic center, and the fisheries industry plays an important role.

The province's goal is to restructure aquaculture and seafood exploitation, not setting a target of increasing output but mainly improving product quality. The province focuses on aquaculture, especially in the direction of organic farming, sustainable ecology, efficiency, and strong development of marine farming.

Therefore, it can be said that Ba Ria-Vung Tau is "pivoting" to aquaculture, not only helping to rebalance the exploitation segment but also helping the industry develop more sustainably.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Thi, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Fisheries, said that Ba Ria-Vung Tau has an aquaculture area of more than 5,623.8 hectares, of which the majority is saltwater, brackish water farming, and in the form of advanced extensive farming.

"In recent years, the aquaculture industry has not only contributed to creating a stable supply of raw materials for seafood exports but also helped reduce pressure in offshore fishing," said Mr. Thi.

The province's agricultural sector also mobilizes and guides people to apply science and technology and use environmentally friendly materials in the production process, bringing high economic efficiency.

Currently, the whole province has 23 organizations and individuals raising and producing aquatic breeds using technology, with a total area of more than 429.31 hectares. The value ratio of high-tech farming products reached 46.54%, expected to increase sharply in the coming years.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau province's orientation to develop high-tech aquaculture will help people reduce risks when farming. Thus, profits will increase and productivity will be higher than traditional farming.