Binh Dinh strictly punishes 8 fishing boats for violations

Many fishing boats deliberately cross the border to fish.

From October 2023 to present, Binh Dinh province has received information about 8 fishing vessels being detained by foreign countries and 2 fishing vessels without official notification. Of which, 8 fishing vessels violating foreign waters are vessels under 15m (not required to install voyage monitoring equipment - GSHT) operating, anchoring and departing from outside the province, not returning to the locality every year.

The 8 fishing boats violating foreign waters are all fishing boats of Phu Cat district fishermen. The People's Committee of Binh Dinh province has issued a decision to impose administrative fines of 7.2 billion VND (900 million VND/violating boat), however, to date, no fishing boat has fulfilled its obligation to pay the fine.

In addition to fishing vessels violating foreign waters, from the beginning of 2024 to now, the authorities of Binh Dinh province have imposed administrative sanctions on 58 cases of violations in the field of fisheries, with a fine of more than 1.7 billion VND. Of which, 31 cases were fined for losing connection to the GSHT device, with a fine of more than 1.5 billion VND; 27 other violations were fined, with a fine of more than 239 million VND.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Binh Dinh province, although the provincial authorities have carried out propaganda activities and tightened management of fishing vessel activities to prevent fishing vessels from violating IUU fishing. However, currently, Binh Dinh still has fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters.

These fishing vessels are mainly under 15m, operating, entering and leaving ports and anchoring outside the province (concentrated in the southern provinces), and do not return to their localities every year, causing difficulties for management. Many boat owners and captains still deliberately violate the law for economic benefits.

Verify fishing boat owner's assets for enforcement

On September 9, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province announced that the head of the provincial government has just directed the handling of fishing vessels violating IUU in the past. This move is based on the proposal of the Border Guard Command of Binh Dinh province to thoroughly handle fishing vessels violating foreign waters; fishing vessels violating regulations on GSHT and delaying and failing to comply with sanction decisions in the fisheries sector from 2023 to August 2024.

Accordingly, Chairman of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan assigned the Binh Dinh Provincial Border Guard Command to continue coordinating with relevant agencies to verify information on land, housing and assets of fishing boat owners who were fined but did not voluntarily comply, as a basis for enforcement according to regulations.

Direct border guards to coordinate with police at all levels to work with fishermen, especially captains and owners of fishing boats returned to their home countries; promptly verify, collect evidence, consolidate records to report and propose to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for handling.

Assign the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Dinh province to direct units to strictly manage the granting of fishing licenses, manage the fleet, and closely monitor the maintenance of connection to fishing vessel GPS devices. Promptly detect, verify and handle violations...