Mr. Nguyen Van Buoi - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ben Tre province - said that as of October 8, the total number of registered fishing vessels in Ben Tre province was 3,369. Of these, 2,012 were offshore fishing vessels.
“Ben Tre has a 65km long coastline with four major estuaries of the Mekong River, which is a favorable condition for the development of fishing activities. Currently, the whole province has 2,915 vessels licensed to exploit aquatic products,” said Mr. Buoi.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ben Tre province said that, together with the whole country, to soon remove the yellow card of the European Committee, Ben Tre has promoted the fight against illegal fishing for fishing boat owners and fishermen operating offshore fishing boats. In addition, implementing the model of assigning cadres and party members of local organizations to be directly responsible (one cadre, party member/one boat owner) to support boat owners in controlling and managing fishing boats operating at sea through monitoring equipment installed on the boat. Up to now, the whole province has 36 communes assigning 237 cadres and party members to be directly responsible for 356 boat owners in the area.
In addition, from the beginning of 2024 to present, the Fisheries Branch has conducted 16 inspections, working directly with representatives of 340 organizations and individuals; the Provincial Border Guard Command has organized 84 patrols, inspecting 914 vehicles/5,072 people. Thereby, in 2024, Ben Tre has no fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters.
Mr. Nguyen Van Buoi also added that in the coming time, Ben Tre will continue to strengthen the monitoring of fishing vessels, monitor and control 100% of fishing vessels in the border area, coordinate with functional forces at sea to promptly handle cases of fishing vessels at risk of crossing the border, and prevent illegal fishing in foreign waters.
