Localities enhance offshore fishing capacity

Hanoi (VNA) – Coastal provinces have supported local fishermen to go offshore on large vessels with modern equipment, contributing to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty over its seas and islands.

Ninh Thuan province is striving for an output of 119,500 tonnes this year, of which around 70 percent is from offshore fishing.

With central and local budgets, the locality has encouraged fishermen to build and upgrade their boats, raising the total measuring above 6m in length to 2,236.

The vessels have been equipped with modern devices, including monitoring systems, which makes it easier for competent agencies to update the national fisheries database (Vnfishbase).

Dang Van Tin, head of the fishery bureau under the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said efforts have been made to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

His bureau has coordinated with relevant agencies to popularise the 2017 Fisheries Law with an emphasis on acts that are considered illegal, the official added.

Meanwhile, Bac Lieu province’s aquatic output is expected to reach 150,000 tonnes by 2025.

The locality has utilised science and technology, especially cold storage for offshore fishing boats, to improve product quality and ensure food hygiene and safety.

Apart from implementing fishery cooperation agreements with foreign countries, Bac Lieu has stepped up the communication work to raise farmers’ awareness of IUU fishing.

Tien Giang province counts 1,469 vessels, up 264 from 2015, and recently encouraged material supply and seafood purchase right on fishing grounds, helping vessels lengthen their offshore fishing trips./.