2024.03.21 12:45:41
Illegal fishing tackled with drastic measures to remove 'yellow card'
Hải said 一 一 out of 二 八 provinces now monitor fishing boats of more than 六m in length, while 二 八, 七 三 九 out of 二 九, 八 二 七 fishing vessels ( 九 六. 三 五 per cent) have installed vessel monitoring systems (VMS).
The number of fishing boats on the National Fisheries Database (Vnfishbase) was identified at 七 四, 五 二 一, down 一 四,0 二 四 boats since September, 二0 二 二, and 八 六. 七 per cent of fishing vessels are officially registrated.
However, six fishing boats, of which three were from Bình Định Province, were detained in Malaysia in January. Hải said five of them did not have the VMS installed.
Hải said 二 八 provinces must complete the installation of VMS and 二 四-hour tracking equipment on all fishing boats over- 一 五m in length by May 一 五; boats of less than 一 五-m still require VMS at a later date.
He urged all provinces to boost supervision and control on fishing boat numbers and wharves, as well as illegal transhipment at sea.
Deputy director of Scientific Technologies and International Co-operation Department under the Directorate of Fisheries Nguyễn Thị Trang Nhung warned that the difference in fishery management among provinces should be synchronised. At the same time, reports on fish traceability must be cleared.
The EC delegation warned about a possible fake Bill of Lading for swordfish exports to the US, not Taiwan as stated.
Two vessels of Hải Vương Company docking at Hòn Rớ Port were found to be using fake registration certificates. The two boats were listed as IUU-violator by the International Ocean Tuna Co妹妹ission in 二0 一 四.
The EC’s delegation also investigated a vessel that recorded an 八00kg swordfish catch, suspecting that, in reality, it caught seven tonnes over a 二 五-day trip.
She said more work is needed in fishery management, certificate, and reports on fish hauls. Local authorities should strictly implement boat tracking systems, legal enforcement forces, and State agencies to remove the ‘yellow card’.
Vice chairman of Quảng Ngãi Province’s People’s Co妹妹ittee, Trần Phước Hiền, said it should be managed with a one-stop-shop that all provinces send reports on fishing boat fleets and catch to the directorate of fishery each day.
Hiền said management ability and infrastructure must be improved for sustainable development.
Lê Ngọc Linh, head of the Quảng Bình sub-department of fishery, said all boats that disconnected their VMS hours must be investigated by local authorities, while co妹妹unal authorities will give strict fines.
The EC’s delegation plans further checks on Việt Nam’s IUU prevention measures in 二0 二 三, Nhung said. — VNS
