Continue to synchronously and drastically implement solutions to prevent IUU fishing

View of the meeting

In recent times, Binh Dinh province has continued to implement solutions to combat IUU fishing in terms of fleet management, monitoring, control and supervision of fishing vessel activities; tracing the origin of exploited aquatic products; enforcing the law, and handling IUU violations. Since the beginning of 2024, the authorities have sanctioned 46 cases of administrative violations in the field of fisheries with a total fine of VND 709.5 million;  In which, 19 cases of losing connection to the journey monitoring device during operations at sea were fined 470 million VND (including 08 violations in 2023).

The implementation of Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP dated June 12, 2024 of the Supreme People's Court's Council of Judges on Guidance on the application of a number of provisions of the Penal Code on criminal prosecution for acts related to illegal exploitation, trading and transportation of aquatic products was focused on. The Department of Justice coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to compile a Legal Handbook on handling violations related to illegal exploitation, trading and transportation of aquatic products; printed 6,100 copies, distributed 4,600 copies to the Provincial Border Guard Command and 1,500 copies to the Fisheries Sub-Department for direct distribution to ship owners and captains at fishing ports and Border Control Stations.  Along with that, the Department of Fisheries is compiling and printing 5,000 leaflets on handling violations related to illegal exploitation, trading and transportation of aquatic products according to Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP; Regulations on administrative sanctions for violations in the field of fisheries according to Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP dated April 5, 2024 of the Government, assigned to the People's Committees of coastal communes, wards and towns and IUU Teams at Quy Nhon, Tam Quan and De Gi Fishing Ports to distribute to fishermen. In addition, the People's Committees of coastal districts, towns and cities direct the People's Committees of coastal communes/wards to inform and propagate Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP to local people and people outside the province.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tuan Thanh spoke at the meeting.

 Concluding the meeting, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tuan Thanh requested relevant agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees of coastal districts, towns and cities to continue to synchronously and drastically deploy solutions to prevent and combat IUU fishing. In particular, People's Committees of coastal districts, towns and cities and functional forces must strengthen propaganda and mobilization work in various forms and propaganda objects to further raise people's awareness of law compliance; resolutely fight and thoroughly handle violations. Binh Dinh Radio and Television Station and Binh Dinh Newspaper continue to develop columns, reports, and articles to propagate and thoroughly disseminate the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws on sustainable fisheries economic development, and prevention and combat of IUU fishing. Particularly focus on informing and propagating Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP dated June 12, 2024 of the Supreme People's Court's Judicial Council.Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tuan Thanh requested that, for the group of unregistered fishing vessels (3-no fishing vessels), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development directs the Fisheries Sub-Department to continue reviewing, inspecting and guiding the procedures for registering fishing vessels according to regulations. The People's Committees of coastal districts, towns and cities are responsible for reporting the list of unregistered fishing vessel owners and including unregistered fishing vessels in the list of unregistered fishing vessels. For the group of fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters (length from 12 to under 15 meters) engaged in squid fishing, regularly operating in the southern provinces and not returning to their localities every year, the Fisheries Sub-Department works with fishing vessel owners to request the installation of voyage monitoring equipment according to the direction of Binh Dinh province. In case the fishing vessels have not installed voyage monitoring equipment according to the direction, the Fisheries Exploitation License will be temporarily revoked to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; At the same time, temporarily suspend the issuance of fishing licenses for this group of fishing vessels, and only issue and reissue fishing licenses for this group of fishing vessels after installing a voyage monitoring device. Require fishing vessel owners to commit to ensuring that the voyage monitoring device operates continuously 24/7 from the time the vessel leaves the port until it arrives at the port so that the authorities can monitor and manage it. There is a document requesting agencies and units in the southern provinces to coordinate in closely inspecting and controlling this group of fishing vessels and not to carry out procedures to leave the port to fish because the Fishing License has been revoked.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development directs the Fishing Port Management Boards in the province to increase the arrangement of staff to fully inspect and control the output of aquatic products unloaded from fishing vessels according to regulations.  Control 100% of fishing vessels with a length of 15 meters or more to dock at designated ports, ensure that VMS equipment operates continuously 24/24 hours when fishing vessels leave the port until they dock and notify 1 hour in advance, record and submit the Fishing Logbook according to regulations; check and compare information in the Fishing Logbook to ensure consistency with fishing vessel monitoring data. The Management Board of fishing ports shall confirm, the Department of Fisheries shall certify the origin of exploited aquatic products in accordance with regulations. The People's Committees of coastal districts, towns and cities shall organize the review and make a list of fishing vessels with a length of 12 to less than 15 meters that regularly engage in squid fishing in the southern provinces and do not return to their localities every year.  Establish a working group to work with the Southern provinces to directly meet with the owners and captains of fishing vessels with a length of 12 meters to less than 15 meters in their localities, operating in the squid fishing industry, to advocate and request the installation of a new fishing vessel monitoring device before being allowed to participate in seafood fishing. Coordinate with functional forces to handle fishing vessels violating foreign waters; fishing vessels that are warned and fishing vessels that lose connection signals to the monitoring device during operations at sea. Be responsible to the Provincial People's Committee if a local fishing vessel violates IUU fishing. The Border Guard Command coordinates with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to thoroughly handle cases of IUU fishing violations, especially handling 100% of cases of losing connection to the monitoring device for more than 6 hours during operations at sea due to subjective reasons./.