Da Nang is striving to implement many solutions, with a focus on mobilising resources, to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The functional forces inspecting and controling fishing vessels and fishing activities. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Since early 2023, the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and Port has received a total of 16,190 fishing boat arrivals. In addition, 90,365 tonnes of seafood in total have been unloaded from fishing vessels anchored here.

The Authority of the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and Port has used statistical and calculation software to fully update information to monitor and inspect fishing vessels entering and leaving the port in service of monitoring, reporting, and ensuring that archived records are linked in a chain for easy retrieval. 100% of captains and owners of fishing vessels docking at port to load and unload seafood have submitted fishing and purchasing logs.

In addition, the unit has increased the allocation of human resources and facilities to guide and request ship owners and captains in order to implement seafood exploitation and purchasing logs in accordance with regulations.

Documents for confirmation, certification, and traceability are arranged and stored in accordance with regulations, making them easy to retrieve when requested. Certificates of origin of exploited aquatic products are managed on software. Verification, certification and traceability of exploited aquatic products are carried out in accordance with regulations.

Mr. Nguyen Lai, Head of the Authority of the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and Port, informed that over 50 fishing vessels docked at the wharf every day, so the unit has to handle a huge workload.

“We are trying to complete the assigned tasks, and ensure the IUU prevention and combat, in a bid to join the whole country’s efforts in removing the European Commission (EC)'s yellow card fishing warning” he added.

Currently, localities are drastically reviewing and supervising fishing vessels with 3 NOs (no registration, no examination, no licence), especially vessels with the length of less than 6m and from 6-12m.

At the same time, priority is given to encouraging fishermen to carry out procedures to register fishing vessels in order to have complete documents to be granted a fishing licence according to regulations.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nai Hien Dong Ward in Son Tra District Ho Tan Phuoc said the ward authorities have been drastically reviewing the ships with “3 NOs” and mobilising fishermen to quickly and completely resolve related problems.

Vice Chairman of Son Tra District People's Committee Huynh Van Hung said that the district is coordinating with the Fisheries Bureau of the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to actively review fishing vessels with 3 NOs, and support fishermen to solve problems and carry out procedures for registration, inspection, and issuance of fisheries licenses in accordance with regulations.

Leaders of Son Tra District People's Committee working with relevant units and localities to resolving fishing vessels with 3 NOs (no registration, no examination, no licence). Photo: HOANG HIEP

In order to prevent and combat IUU and join hands with the whole country to remove the EC's "yellow card" warning, the Da Nang Border Guard Command has recently increased inspection and control of all fishing vessels and crew members at maritime border stations.

Fishing vessels which do not have all the documents related to people and vehicles according to regulations, have not installed cruise monitoring equipment or have not been lead-clamped, are not allow to leave the wharf.

Fishing vessels showing signs of violations and fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing will be strictly managed. At the same time, 24/7 monitoring and supervision is conducted for 100% of Da Nang’s fishing vessels operating at sea through the fishing vessel monitoring system.

Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Dang Huy said that the city has completed a review and statistics of the entire number of fishing vessels, and fully updated data of the city's 1,188 registered fishing vessels on the Viet Nam Fisheries database system (VNFishbase).

The municipal People's Committee has directed units and localities to strengthen inspection, control, and management of fishing vessels, and closely monitor the anchoring locations of fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for fishing activities.

The Department periodically compiles a list of such fishing vessel every month and sends it to units and localities to closely monitor and strictly handle cases of violations according to regulations.

The city has also established the Fisheries Inspection Office under the Fisheries Bureau of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development according to the provisions of the Fisheries Law and the Law on Organisation of Local Government. The purpose is to ensure the capacity to perform its State management activities in decentralised sea areas, and to tackle violations of regulations on preventing and combating IUU fishing.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Translating by M.DUNG, T.TUNG