On July 12, Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan directed departments, branches and authorities of coastal communes and wards to focus on reviewing and rectifying the work of combating IUU fishing (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing).
Mr. Tuan requested special attention to thoroughly handling two major risk groups, including: fishing vessels at risk of violating foreign waters and fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions but still operate illegally.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment is assigned to preside over and compile a list of fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate (expired for inspection, expired fishing licenses, not yet installed journey monitoring equipment - GSHT) and send it to coastal communes and wards for daily monitoring.
"The Department coordinates with the police, border guards and local authorities to organize peak inspections and patrols, especially at the banks and anchorage points outside the fishing port system.
Together with coastal communes and wards, review and clearly identify 650 fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate, assign local authorities to strictly manage them, not allowing them to go to sea. At the same time, it is required to urgently install GSHT equipment or bring to shore 30 fishing vessels that do not have GSHT signals," Mr. Tuan directed.
The Gia Lai Provincial Border Guard Command is assigned to control 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, absolutely not allowing violating vessels to go to sea. At the same time, border guards must monitor the signals of the journey equipment and strictly handle cases of loss of signal, cross-border crossings or misuse of sea areas. Border guards must also closely coordinate with localities and functional forces in the southern provinces to inspect and prevent Gia Lai fishing vessels from operating in violation of regulations outside the province.
Gia Lai Provincial Police coordinate with local police to closely monitor subjects at risk of organizing IUU fishing, especially acts of brokerage, sending fishing vessels and fishermen to encroach on foreign waters.
The authorities of coastal communes and wards continue to notify and instruct fishermen to conduct fishing vessel inspections and apply for exploitation licenses. In case the ship owner does not comply, it must organize the bringing the ship back to anchor and strictly monitor. Each unqualified fishing vessel will have officers and party members assigned to monitor separately, ensuring that no illegal activities occur.
In Phu My Dong commune alone, local authorities must strictly control 16 ships over 15m long that have not installed GSHT equipment, and only allow them to go to sea when the installation is complete. If the ship owner intentionally violates, the locality must promptly report it for handling according to regulations.
