The Da Nang Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Board and the Command of the Coast Guard Region 2 and the Lien Chieu District government have jointly launched a meeting to mobilize fishermen against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The awarding of gifts, each worth VND1 million, to disadvantaged fishermen in Lien Chieu District is in progress. Photo: TRONG HUNG

At the event, the participating fishermen were introduced to the European Commission (EC)'s regulations against IUU fishing, the provisions of the Fisheries Law and relevant legal documents on combating IUU fishing; the Law on Coast Guard in 2018; information on a number of regulations on fishing activities at sea with the sanctions imposed by Viet Nam and other countries for violations.

Offshore fishing vessel owners and captains were highly recommended to strictly keep a fishing log book, report on fishing, install and operate fishing vessel monitoring equipment to ensure compliance with regulations and sign a commitment to avoiding illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters and IUU fishing.

On this occasion, representatives of the municipal Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Board and the Command of Coast Guard Region 2 presented 100 gifts, each worth VND1 million, to disadvantaged fishermen in Lien Chieu District.

Since the EC gave a “yellow card” warning to Viet Nam’s fisheries and seafood in the European market in October 2017, the entire sector has suffered marked losses. It is necessary to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing in order to remove the “yellow card” warning, develop fisheries responsibly, and integrate into the world.

Over the past time, competent agencies in Da Nang have coordinated with one another to carry out many publicity and support activities for fishermen to head out to sea and make seafood catches in the Vietnamese waters in compliance with regulations in a bid to ensure their livelihoods and ensure sustainable fishery development.

Reporting by TRONG HUNG – Translating by A.THU