Ninh Binh takes strong actions against IUU fishing

Ninh Binh has nearly 20 kilometers of coastline with 68 fishing vessels, eight of which have a length of 15m or more while 60 fishing vessels have a length of between 6-15m in length operating inshore areas. The province's caught aquatic output reaches 2,000 tonnes per year.

Though Ninh Binh has the shortest coastline and the smallest fleet of fishing vessels among 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities, it has still taken a wide range of measures to prevent IUU fishing, implement the EC's recommendations and increase patrols and inspections and control over fishing activities at sea.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has closely coordinated with the provincial Border Guard Command and authorities of localities to review the number of fishing vessels, and step up the dissemination of information about the Law on Fisheries and regulations on IUU fishing prevention and control among fishermen and related individuals and organisations.

At the same time, it has closely controlled fishing vessels and workers joining fishing activities.

Thanks to the implementation of drasticmeasures, all fishing boats of Ninh Binh have already been registered and licensed to exploit seafood. Ninh Binh has completed the marking of fishing vessels too. Six fishing vessels operating offshore have been installed with vessel monitoring systems. No fishing vessel have violated prohibited fishing areas or foreign waters.

 Do Van Chuan, Head the Division of Aquatic Resources Exploitation and Development under the Sub-Department of Fisheries of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said local fishermen have been provided regulations on fishing activities as well as rules on IUU fishing so they have changed their awareness.

Ninh Binh has been highly evaluated for its strict implementation of regulations on IUU fishing prevention and control.

However, the province has met hindrances in implementing rules on IUU fishing prevention and control as most local fishing vessels operating in inshore areas, there is no fishing ports so that it is difficult for authorized agencies to manage these vessels.

At the same time, it is hard for Ninh Binh to grant certificates of seafood origin as caught seafood has been consumed domestically.

In the time to come, competent agencies will continue to expediting concerted measures to prevent IUU fishing.

The provincial authorities will step up the dissemination of information about the Law on Fisheries and regulations on IUU fishing prevention and control to fishermen and related individuals and organisations; tighten management of fishing vessels; enhance inspection and monitoring of fishing vessels entering or leaving local ports and fishing ships operating in Ninh Binh's waters and strictly handle violation cases.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy