Under a decision recently issued by the provincialPeople’s Committee, the checkpoints, to be located at Sao Mai, Loc An and BinhChau estuaries, will be allowed to stop all fishing boats traversing the estuaries for paperand equipment examinations.
The committee has also assigned the provincialDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with competentforces to put forth specific plans on the operation of the checkpoints.
On March 6, it adopted another decision on theissuance of an action plan on the IUU combat, under which the Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development was asked to coordinate with otherdepartments and agencies to complete the review of all fishing boats by May2023.
The registration of fishing boats, fishing licencegranting and the installation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) should have been doneby that time, according to the document.
The decision also requested the update of thenational fisheries database, as well as inspections and supervisions over fishingboats at border stations and seaports, and those operating at sea.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Developmentsaid up to 2,631 fishing boats with a length of over 15m, or 95% of the totalnumber, have been equipped with the VMS.
The central province of Quang Ngai has also launcheda 180-day campaign against wrongdoings in the fishery sector, especially IUUfishing.
Border guards in the locality have established workinggroups to monitor the observation of fishing regulations at 10 stations.
Tran Vang, captain of fishing boat QNg 98729 TS inPho Thanh ward, Duc Pho city, said he was fined 25 million VND (1,055 USD) andstripped of his captain license for four months due to the failure inmaintaining the VMS.
Lieutenant Colonel Lam Van Vien, head of Sa Ky borderstation in Quang Ngai city, said forces have been working both on canoes and atcheckpoints, and resolute actions have been taken against wrongdoings.
The province has completed the update of thenational fisheries database and 77% of the fishing licensing work. More than98% of the fishing boats have been equipped with the VMS.
Director of the provincial Department of Agricultureand Rural Development Ho Trong Phuong said in preparation for the 4th working session with the European Commission (EC)’s inspection team, hisdepartment will enhance coordination with other departments and agencies in theIUU combat./.