Initial effectiveness but many challenges remain
In recent years, fishing vessel management has seen many positive changes. Thanks to the involvement of central and local agencies, the number of fishing vessel accidents has decreased significantly.
The effectiveness of inspection and legal examination activities on fishing vessel management has also been enhanced. This helps improve awareness and law compliance of vessel owners as well as fishermen.
However, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, challenges remain and are becoming more and more complex. Extreme weather patterns such as storms, tropical depressions and big waves at sea are becoming more unpredictable due to the impact of climate change. Along with that, the situation in the East Sea is becoming more and more complicated; the management of fishing vessel registration, inspection and control of fishing vessels operating at sea still has some shortcomings and limitations.
Many fishing vessels are still operating without ensuring the necessary safety conditions. Lack of rescue equipment, fire prevention and fighting equipment, and the use of unqualified labor are the main causes of serious accidents at sea. Meanwhile, the response capacity of many localities to incidents remains limited.
Towards safe and sustainable production
Faced with this reality, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed a series of specific solutions and requested coastal provinces and cities to seriously implement them.
First, localities need to strictly control fishing vessels before they leave port. All fishing vessels must be fully inspected and equipped with necessary safety equipment for crew members, including life jackets, rescue equipment and fire prevention equipment.
For workers, crew control needs to be more strictly implemented. Ship owners must ensure that all crew members are qualified and do not use child labor. At the same time, fishermen working on fishing vessels need to buy accident insurance and other compulsory insurance to ensure their rights when risks occur.
In addition to inspection and control, propaganda also plays an important role. Fishermen need to be instructed on how to prevent accidents and handle risks at sea. The Ministry encourages fishermen to organize their fishing activities in groups, which not only helps increase labor productivity but also ensures the ability to support each other in case of problems. In parallel, the fishing vessel monitoring system will be operated 24/7 to provide weather information, storm warnings and support fishermen when necessary.
Another notable solution is to organize regular drills at fishing ports and storm shelters. These drills help improve the response capacity of fishermen and authorities when faced with emergency situations. From handling fire and explosion incidents, rescuing fishing vessels in distress to searching and rescuing at sea, necessary skills are practiced and perfected.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also requested coastal provinces to promptly report on fishing boat accidents. Information such as the cause of the accident, damage and remedial measures will be the basis for the Ministry to issue more appropriate instructions and policies in the future.
These synchronous solutions not only help fishermen feel more secure when going to sea but also create conditions for the sustainable development of the fisheries industry. In the context of climate change and increasingly clear global challenges, improving the efficiency of fishing vessel management and ensuring the safety of fishermen is an urgent task.
Close coordination between relevant agencies, local authorities and fishing communities will be the key to overcoming challenges and developing Vietnam's fisheries industry more safely and effectively in the future.
