Ninh Thuan (VNA) – The south-central province of Ninh Thuan, endowed with a 105-km coastline and abundant fishery resources, has taken drastic measures to clamp down on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Along with tightening the control over the fishing activities at sea and the fishing fleet, local authorities have promoted communications work to raise public awareness of the fisheries law, joining the nation’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning removed soon.
Local fishermen now understand that they are not allowed to fish in foreign waters, must show sufficient documents proving their seaworthiness before leaving the ports, and have the vessel monitoring system (VMS) installed and kept on while at sea.
According to the provincial Department of Fisheries, Ninh Thuan is now home to 2,309 fishing boats with a length of six metres and above, all of which get fishing licenses and 99.6% have food safety certificates. Meanwhile, the installation of VMS device has been made on almost all of the vessels.
To date, the province has recorded no boats infringing foreign waters.
According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Trinh Minh Hoang, Ninh Thuan is resolved to impose strict punishment on any IUU fishing violations that affect the province’s images and national interests.
Local border guards and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development have been requested to enhance inspection of fishing activities while the Department of Fisheries is responsible for instructing fishing vessel owners to proceed registration, granting fishing license in a timely fashion and in line with current regulations, and fully updating vessel data into the national fisheries database (VNFishbase).
He said the People’s Committees of communes, wards, and towns must continue stepping up communications work to improve locals’ compliance with related laws and enhancing management and control over fishing boats operating in the locality, as well as establish a mechanism to exchange information with other provinces to prevent fishing violations in a timely manner./.
