As planned, inspectors from the European Commission (EC) will work with some coastal localities in late October to check their efforts to tackle illegal, unreported and undocumented (IUU) fishing.

Currently, Da Nang government and relevant units are doing their utmost to fight IUU fishing in an attempt to lift the EC’s ‘yellow card’ on Vietnamese seafood.

Designing by M.ANH - Translating by M.DUNG

Positive results

In recent years, Da Nang has issued many documents directing relevant localities, departments and agencies to combat IUU fishing, according to the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In the first 9 months of 2022, 642 turns of fishing vessels were registered, and 600 directories of fishing teamers were granted. Accumulated from 2018 until now, the total number of registered fishing vessels is 5,801, and that of granted directories of fishing team members is 1,598.

Till date, 1,052 out of the 1,217 fishing vessels in the city have been marked according to regulations. For 165 fishing vessels that have not yet been marked, the Fisheries Sub-Department under the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has coordinated with the city’s Border Guard to handle violations, and not to settle departures for cases of late registration and unmarked fishing vessels.

Up to now, the Fisheries Sub-Department has granted fishing licences for 63 fishing ships. As accumulated from 2018 to September 2022, 1,131 boats were granted fishing licences. In addition, the unit is trying to review, report and update actual data on fishing registration and licencing on the national fisheries database system VNFishbase.

A total of 560 out of the 585 fishing ships in the city with the largest length of 15m or more have been installed with voyage monitoring equipment.

Son Tra District boasts many strengths in fishing. Up to now, the whole district has 1,205 fishing boats, 450 of them conduct offshore fishing activities. 71 sea production solidarity groups have been established.

Mr. Tran Van Thanh, Deputy Head of the Economic Office of Son Tra District, said that the district authorities have issued many policies to raise awareness of not violating illegal fishing in foreign waters among fishing vessel owners and fishermen, causing damage to the lives and property of fishermen, and affecting the national image and reputation.

Mr. Nguyen Lai, Deputy Director of the Authority of Tho Quang Fishing Port and Wharf, informed that his unit regularly reminded fishermen and ship owners about regulations against IUU fishing in various forms such as training sessions, meetings, and on loudspeaker systems and electronic boards.

In the first nine months of 2022, 11,621 ships berthed at the Tho Quang Fishing Port, and the total volume of cargo transported through the port reached 49,608 tonnes, up 13.34% over the same period in 2021.

In the first nine months of 2022, 11,621 ships berthed at the Tho Quang Fishing Port, and the total volume of cargo transported through the port reached 49,608 tonnes, up 13.34% over the same period in 2021.

Getting ready for inspection

Mr. Nguyen Lai said that in the coming time, the unit will continue to publicise solutions against IUU fishing, and overcome limitations to ensure the good performance of tasks such as controlling ship arrivals and leaving, collecting fishing logs, and monitoring the output of species components through the port.

Besides, the unit will coordinate with relevant forces to control fishing activities at the port to strictly handle violations of IUU fishing by ship owners and captains.

According to the city’s Fisheries Sub-Department, the fight against IUU fishing and the removal of EC’s ‘yellow card’ on Vietnamese seafood still have faced some limitations in handling fishing vessels losing connection signals at sea, violating fishing areas, and the sealing of voyage monitoring equipment that quickly rusts or breaks.

In the coming time, the unit will continue to implement the guiding documents of the Central and the municipal governments on combating IUU fishing, and publicise the use of voyage monitoring equipment for fishing vessels.

Reporting by VAN HOANG - Translating by M.DUNG