Fishing vessels are seen at Phu Quy Island in the south central province of Binh Thuan. (Photo: VNA) Binh Thuan (VNA) – The south central province of BinhThuan is raising public awareness in the fightagainst illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the implementationof the 2017 Fisheries Law.
The moves come as part of the country's180-day action plan for IUU fishingprevention and control.
Since the beginning of this year, the provincial FisheriesSub-Department has coordinated with localities to organise six classes for 450fishermen, especially those working on offshore fishing vessels and groups witha high risk of committing to IUU fishing.
The provincial Border Guard Command also organised 111 sessions for 16,190 fishermen about the fight against IUU fishing and illegal fishing in foreignwaters.
Local vessel owners and captains of offshore fishing ships signed commitments not to violate foreign waters.
Local fishing port management boards used loudspeaker systemsfor communication activities and gave fishing diaries, and leaflets to shipowners, captains, and fishermen.
According to the Binh Thuan provincial steering committeeagainst IUU fishing, thanks to drastic solutions, the number of local fishingvessels and fishermen that violate foreign waters has gradually decreased overthe years.
From July 2019 to June 2021, no fishing boats or fishermenviolated foreign waters.
However, from mid-2021 until now, there have been eightcases of violations in which nine vessels and 69 fishermen were arrested by foreign countries.
In the first five months of 2023, there was onecase in which one vessel and seven Vietnamese fishermen were arrested inMalaysian waters. The violating fishing boats often operate, stay, and depart inother provinces and rarely return to Binh Thuan province, which causesdifficulties in overseeing the vessels.
By the end of May 2023, the whole province had 1,941 out of1,961 fishing vessels with a length of 15 meters and above installed with vessel monitoring system (VMS), reaching 99%. The vessels without VMSinclude 14 damaged ones that are no longer able to operate or those involved incivil disputes and the other six vessels whose owners face financialdifficulties.
Vessels without VMS are now not allowed to operate at sea.
In an effort to curb IUU fishing effectively, the provincialPeople’s Committee has asked relevant departments, agencies, and units totake drastic measures, particularly in managing vessels./.
