On April 14, in Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province, the Command (BTL) of the Coast Guard 4 organized a conference to discuss solutions to continue performing the task of preventing and fighting against IUU.
The conference aims to find specific, practical and effective solutions, thereby focusing on implementing synchronously and drastically against IUU violations. Clearly identify the responsibilities of collectives and individuals, contributing to the end of the "yellow card of the EC" for Vietnam's seafood export products in the coming time.
Recently, the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels crossing the boundary to foreign waters and being arrested and handled by foreign authorities has decreased significantly. However, Vietnamese fishing vessels violate IUU, especially violations of the use of VMS (cruise monitoring), which also takes place with more sophisticated tricks.
From April 2024, the BTL of the Coast Guard 4 has mobilized and used 123 turns of ships and canoes to be ready to fight, patrol and control, prevent IUU violations in the border area of Vietnam - Thailand - Malaysia. Checking and propagating nearly 6,500 vessels, including a decision to sanction 338 cases/391 fishing vessels violating in the field of fisheries, with a total fine of nearly VND 6 billion.
Investigate, verify and hand over material documents and means related to 21 cases/33 ships showing signs of "illegal transportation of goods across the border" and the crime of "obstructing or causing disorders of computer networks, telecommunications networks, electronic means" to police offices of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Soc Trang provinces investigating and handling according to their competence. Decision to prosecute 2 criminal cases on the crime of "organizing brokers for other people to illegally immigration". In particular, the People's Court at all levels of the locality tried 3 cases, sentenced 18 defendants with a total penalty of more than 96 years in prison.
At the conference, the authorities promote the sense of responsibility, closely follow the task requirements, propose many guidelines and practical measures, in accordance with the reality and high feasibility to contribute to the effective implementation of IUU's prevention and control tasks in the coming time.
Speaking at the Conference Conclusion, Major General Tran Van Luong - Regional Commander - assigned specific tasks to each agency, unit and requesting the Party committees and commanders at all levels to thoroughly organize the implementation seriously and effectively the measures.
Actively renovate the content and form of propaganda and dissemination of legal education to raise awareness for the Party committees, authorities, officials, party members and fishermen on sustainable development of fisheries and anti -IUU exploitation. In particular, focusing on propaganda both in the field and local, focusing on direct propaganda for fishing ships and captains at fishing ports and Europeans.
Implement many synchronous solutions to strictly handle violations of laws related to VMS equipment such as: closely coordinating between specialized agencies; Periodically review the coordination results with the locality in the management of fishing vessels losing signals ...
Strictly and effectively organize forces, means to observe, grasp the goals and operations of fishing vessels in the field, promptly detect signs of violations.
Strengthen forces for ships to perform tasks at sea, assign cadres at the coastal level in charge of each ship and group of ships; continue to organize the use of reasonable and scientific forces; Improve the efficiency of patrolling, inspection and control of fleet borders in the field, promptly detect and strictly handle IUU violations.
Closely coordinate between legal agencies, combining investigations, verification and handling to properly assess the methods and tricks of IUU violations of fishing vessels, firmly grasp the nature, thoroughly handle and root on issues.
