Binh Thuan rushes to curb illegal fishing ahead of EU inspection
The south-central province of Binh Thuan is tightening its grip on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as the clock is ticking down to a crucial inspection by the European Commission (EC).
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| At the meeting (Source: VNA) |
Local departments, agencies, and authorities have been ordered to take decisive actions against IUU fishing, particularly during the peak months of August and September, according to an August 8 meeting of the provincial Steering Committee on IUU combat.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Hong Hai stressed the urgent need to complete the registration and licensing of all fishing vessels by September 15.
In case of lost communication at sea, the local fishing vessel monitoring centre must analyse the cause and provide a clear conclusion to guide appropriate action, he said, calling for immediate repairs and upgrades to deteriorating fishing port infrastructure, ensuring that ports maintain high standards of environmental sanitation.
Nguyen Van Chien, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, highlighted the significant strides Binh Thuan has made in implementing the EC's recommendations to have the IUU yellow card warning lifted.
The province has rigorously taken measures to prevent and do away fishing vessel violations in foreign waters. Remarkably, it has reported no incidents of such violations since mid-2023, a testament to the effectiveness of its stringent policies, he said.
Binh Thuan has also made substantial headway in registering its fishing fleet, with 71% of the vessels now officially permitted to operate. In a concerted effort to tackle the issue of "ghost ships" - vessels operating without proper documentation - it has temporarily registered nearly all of them. So far, 1,370 fishing vessels have been assisted in completing the necessary paperwork for official registration.
To enhance monitoring capabilities, the province has installed tracking devices on all the fishing vessels measuring over 15m in length, and meticulously monitored over 21,100 tonnes of seafood landed at local ports. Rigorous penalties have also been in place, with fines issued against 283 cases of IUU fishing violations
(Source: VNA)
