Prevent fishing vessels from violating from a distance and early on
Quang Ngai currently has 4,710 fishing vessels. Of these, fishing vessels are 15m or longer, with 3,066 fishing vessels offshore. 98.8% of fishing vessels 15m or longer in operation have installed voyage monitoring devices. The list of fishing vessels that have not installed voyage monitoring devices is sent by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to localities for monitoring and management. At the same time, this list is also sent to coastal provinces and cities to coordinate in monitoring, supervising and handling violations when these vessels participate in fishing activities.
The monitoring of fishing vessels operating at sea through the fishing vessel monitoring system is closely monitored, inspected and controlled by relevant agencies, units and localities. According to the Quang Ngai Province Fisheries Department, the unit organizes a 24/7 fishing vessel monitoring system. It promptly detects and sends notifications about fishing vessels that cross the permitted boundary and fishing vessels that lose connection for more than 10 days at sea to localities, the Border Guard force and the Provincial Fishing Port Management Board to coordinate handling when the vessels dock at port.
Since the beginning of the year, the authorities of Quang Ngai province have sanctioned 163 cases of administrative violations in the field of fisheries with a total fine of more than 2.8 billion VND. Of which, 100 vehicles were fined for losing connection to the signal of the journey monitoring device while operating at sea with a total fine of 2.5 billion VND.
According to Mr. Tran Phuoc Hien - Vice Chairman of Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, the situation of fishing vessels crossing the permitted boundaries at sea is becoming more complicated, with a high risk of violations. Quang Ngai authorities regularly monitor fishing vessel monitoring systems to promptly detect fishing vessels that have lost connection to the journey monitoring signal, crossed the permitted boundaries at sea, and have warnings and early prevention of fishing vessels that violate the regulations.
Preparing to work with the European Commission Inspection Delegation
According to the plan, in December 2024, the European Commission (EC) Inspection Delegation will come to Vietnam to inspect the work of preventing and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Binh - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, according to the plan, the inspection content of the European Commission Inspection Delegation will focus on legal mechanisms, direction and operation, fleet management, monitoring of fleet operations, traceability of exploited aquatic products, and law enforcement.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's leaders informed that the Department has requested the People's Committees of communes and wards to continue to focus on reviewing and grasping the data of "3 no" fishing vessels (not registered, not inspected, not licensed). For vessels that are no longer in operation, a list must be made and sent to the provincial Fisheries Department to request removal from the management system.
According to Mr. Tran Phuoc Hien - Vice Chairman of Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, the province will handle the ship owners and fishermen who violate the law at the highest level and make the handling public to raise awareness among fishermen. At the same time, consider not allowing them to enjoy the State's support policies. "From now until the end of 2024, Quang Ngai will strive to prevent the province's fishing vessels and fishermen from violating foreign waters to illegally exploit seafood from being arrested," said Mr. Hien.
