Kien Giang steps up education on IUU rules among fishermen

Kien Giang (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has asked relevant sectors, district and cities to enhance education on regulations about illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing among ship owners and fishermen.

The province has also taken action to raise the sense of legal obligation, especially regulations on IUU fishing, among local people at fishing ports and in districts where fishing is the core industry.

Kien Giang has partnered with the Authority of Grassroots Information under the Ministry of Information and Communications to provide training for hundreds of local communication workers and radio stations of cities, districts, and communes across the province so they can have thorough understanding about the European Commission (EC) rules to combat IUU fishing.

Ha Tien city, one of the province’s fishing hubs which shares the marine border with Thailand and Cambodia, has been among those that have exerted best efforts to combat IUU fishing.

According to Hoang Tu Kien, a ship owner in Hon Tre village in Tien Hai commune of Ha Tien city, the city’s administration and Tien Hai border station have regularly organised talks and meetings, as well as handed out leaflets to improve awareness of the harmful effects of IUU fishing.

Tien and many other fishermen have signed contracts, committing to avoid fishing in foreign waters with the newfound understanding of the potential dangers, including the loss of property.

Kien Giang, where measures against IUU fishing are being piloted, has nine of its 15 districts along the coast. It has established a number of special teams to inspect fishing vessels, handle violations, and withdraw fishing permits if necessary.

The EC imposed its “yellow card” ruling on Vietnam in October last year, after the country failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in the fight against IUU fishing worldwide. 

According to EC requirements, the Vietnamese seafood sector had to implement nine recommendations, including revisions of the legal framework to ensure compliance with international and regional rules, applicable to the conservation and management of fisheries resources; ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of the country’s revised laws; and strengthening the effective implementation of international rules and management measures.–VNA