Fishing vessels off Phu Quoc Island of Kien Giang province (Photo: VNA) The provincial steering committeefor anti-IUU fishing said strong measures are being taken to prevent localfishing vessels from infringing foreign waters, including keeping a close watchon high-risk groups and holding leaders of all-level Party committees andadministrations responsible if violations by vessels from theirlocalities continue.
Quang Trong Thao, Deputy Director ofthe provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the KienGiang administration has sent inter-sectoral delegations to examine and promotedepartments, agencies, units, and localities’ implementation of anti-IUUfishing rules in order to address existing problems and shortcomings.
The agriculture department has alsocoordinated with localities and relevant forces like border guards, coastguards, and police to step up patrol, examination, and settlement of violatingvessels, while strictly managing vessels in line with regulations such as those onregistration, fishing licence, food safety, and vessel monitoring system (VMS)installation.
They have also worked to review andgrasp the situation of the entire fishing fleet to serve the classification andsupervision of vessels and the settlement of wrongdoings, he noted.
From now to October, provincial anddistrict-level authorities will increase communications about IUU fishingprevention and control to ensure local residents, especially fishermen, gain timelyand sufficient access to information about anti-IUU fishing rules, according toThao.
Kien Giang has 9,503 registeredfishing vessels at present. Among the 3,707 vehicles at least 15 metres longthat are subject to VMS installation, 3.652 have been equipped with the systems,according to the provincial steering committee for anti-IUU fishing.
The EC issued a “yellow card” warning forVietnam in terms of IUUfishing in 2017. The "yellow card" isfollowed by a "green card" if the problem is resolved or a "redcard" if it is not. A “red card” may lead to a ban on aquatic exports tothe EU./.
VNA
