Thanh Hoa works to combat IUU fishing. (Photo: VNA) Thanh Hoa (VNA) – After Vietnam received a “yellow-card” from the European Commission (EC) because of its failure to meet standards over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the central province of Thanh Hoa is rushing off its feet to minimise IUU fishing activities in the locality.
Accordingly, the province has prioritised the popularisation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Direction No.3727 on enhancing management over seafood exploitation and ensuring safety for fishermen and fishing vessels as well as the Government’s Direction No.45 on actions in response to the EC’s warning.
Inspections have been increased to address IUU fishing. Permanent revocation of fishing license is the most severe punishment meted out for ship owners and captains who take their vessels to illegally fish in foreign waters.
The local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development asks for the installation and operation of vessel monitoring system in fishing boats and orders captains to keep journals of seafood exploitation. It also carries out a database system which gathers information about fishing vessels, catching activities, fishermen, registration and licensing of fishing boats in the locality.
According to Nguyen Duc Cuong, head of the provincial Bureau of Aquatic Resources Exploitation and Protection, the agency has joined hands with the Directorate of Fisheries, local border guards and the people’s committees of coastal districts to organise 15 training courses on seas and islands, safety for fishermen and fishing vessels, food safety and protection of aquatic resources.
Also, it has delivered leaflets and hung banners to raise public awareness of aquatic resources safeguarding and food safety on fishing vessels.-VNA
VNA
