On August 24, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Khanh Hoa province said that it had directed the Department of Fisheries, Sea and Islands to coordinate with the Border Guard and the People's Committee of Dong Ninh Hoa ward to verify information about the suspected use of explosives to exploit seafood in the Hon Bac area.
Previously, on August 15, a group of German tourists participating in a diving tour in Hon Bac (organized by the Vietnam Underneath diving Center, Nha Trang) discovered many fish carcasses lying scattered at the bottom of the sea.
Around this area, many hard coral reefs and fire coral reefs were also broken. The tour guide commented that this situation most likely originated from fishing with explosives.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporter, Mr. Nguyen Trong Chanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment - said that the unit has received feedback and is urgently coordinating to check and clarify the incident.
To prevent the situation of destroyed aquatic product exploitation, the Department of Agriculture and Environment requested the People's Committee of Dong Ninh Hoa Ward to promptly mobilize fishermen to establish a Community Group to protect aquatic resources, in order to promote the role of monitoring and denouncing violations in exploitation.
The Department also requested the Department of Fisheries, Sea and Islands, Border Guard forces and People's Committees of communes and wards in the province to strictly implement the direction of the Provincial People's Committee on strengthening the prevention of the use of explosives, toxins, electric pulses, and fishing gear prohibited for fishing.
Accordingly, units must step up propaganda to raise public awareness, especially about the harmful effects of international catching on aquatic resources and marine ecosystems.
Regularly organize patrols, inspections, and strictly handle the acts of production, trading, storage, transportation, and use of banned substances, toxic chemicals, and prohibited fishing gear in accordance with legal regulations.
These measures are expected to contribute to protecting and developing the aquatic resources of Khanh Hoa province in a sustainable manner.
