Ca Mau (VNA) – The southernmost province of Ca Mau is carrying out a peak campaign to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing from now to September 30, the provincial People’s Committee announced on September 11.
Accordingly, Ca Mau will mobilise resources and organise specialised training for the management of fishing vessels, promote the dissemination of legal regulations, and encourage ship owners and fishermen to sign commitments to avoid IUU fishing.
The province will implement digitalisation of all records for fishing vessels with expired licenses, expired registrations, lost connections, vessels sold but not yet transferred ownership, and those operating beyond their allowed boundaries. Measures will be taken to monitor and manage each specific case to prevent violations promptly and enforce strict penalties in accordance with legal regulations.
Additionally, inspections will be stepped up to monitor operations of private fishing ports, with focus on fishing vessels and the volume of seafood being loaded or unloaded at these private ports, as well as fishing logs.
Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Phan Hoang Vu stated that the province has been actively and comprehensively implementing measures to combat IUU fishing.
The provincial Steering Committee for IUU Prevention and Control has met regularly, with each sector and locality assigned to closely monitor the situation and promptly address any emerging issues. The agriculture sector is currently working on the registration and management of fishing vessels with expired licenses, expired registrations or lost connections. The list of these vessels has already been published and posted in localities, he said.
By December 31, if owners do not complete the registration and technical checks, these vessels will be absolutely prohibited from operating in any form, Vu stressed./.
