Binh Dinh proposes new ways to solve urgent problems

The People's Council of Binh Dinh province has just passed a Resolution on supporting funding for installing voyage monitoring equipment (GSHT) for fishing vessels with a length of 12 m to less than 15 m, regularly moving in fishing grounds, in the southern provinces.

According to this Resolution, fishing vessels registered in Binh Dinh, operating in the field of squid fishing and installing GSHT equipment in 2024, will be supported. Each vessel will only be supported once with a support level of 50% of the purchase and installation costs, not exceeding 10 million VND/equipment.

The deadline for submitting applications to receive support policies is December 31, 2024. Support funds come from the provincial budget and other legal sources.

This is considered a new approach of Binh Dinh province, to solve the current urgent problem, to join hands to remove the IUU "yellow card".

Mr. Tran Van Phuc - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Dinh province said that in recent times, Binh Dinh province has focused on seriously implementing the work of combating IUU fishing in the province.

However, from the beginning of 2024 until now, the situation of Binh Dinh fishing boats violating foreign waters continues to be complicated, increasing compared to the same period in 2023 (10 violating vessels compared to 3 vessels in 2023).

Mainly the group of fishing vessels with the longest length under 15m, not required to install GSHT equipment, practicing squid fishing (squid nets), operating in fishing grounds of southern provinces, not returning to their localities every year), has greatly affected the efforts of all levels and sectors in implementing the EC's determination to remove the yellow card warning.

In order to effectively implement urgent solutions to overcome the EC's warning on combating IUU fishing, contribute to the early removal of the EC's yellow card and prepare the content of the working session with the EC's Inspection Team. In particular, focusing on preventing and eventually ending the situation of fishing vessels violating IUU, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province has implemented strong measures requiring fishing vessels with a length of 12m to less than 15m, operating in squid fishing (squid net) and exploiting seafood in the fishing grounds of the southern provinces to install fishing vessel tracking devices.

Reduce difficulties for fishermen when installing GSHT equipment according to the province's requirements. Therefore, the issuance of a Resolution of the Provincial People's Council regulating support policies for funding for purchasing and installing GSHT equipment on fishing vessels is necessary.

According to Mr. Tran Van Phuc, 218 fishing boats from 12m to under 15m practicing squid fishing in the southern fishing grounds, each fishing boat is only supported once for each GSHT device installed on the boat.

Binh Dinh province will support 50% of the cost of purchasing and installing a journey monitoring device for a fishing vessel, but not exceeding 10 million VND/device/vessel. The support policy period for support requests submitted to the competent authorities for settlement is until December 31, 2024, with support funding from the provincial budget and other legal funding sources.

"Fishing vessel owners who are supported with funding to install GSHT equipment must fully meet the conditions that the vessel is between 12m and under 15m in length and has a full fishing vessel registration certificate; a fishing vessel technical safety certificate and a valid fishing license according to the provisions of law. The fishing vessel GSHT equipment must be 100% new," said Mr. Tran Van Phuc.

Binh Dinh, Kien Giang, Ca Mau are 3 key locations directed by the Prime Minister.

Mr. Lam Hai Giang - Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee said that the policy to support the installation of navigation devices for fishing vessels from 12m to under 15m is necessary. And Binh Dinh will implement it effectively in 2024. This is a specific policy of Binh Dinh, in fact, the regulation stipulates that this group of vessels operating in offshore areas do not install navigation monitoring devices.

However, in reality, this group of fishing vessels is at high risk of violating foreign waters. Without installation, there is no basis to manage and thoroughly handle the situation of violating fishing vessels.

"Therefore, Binh Dinh implements this policy to gain people's consensus. At the same time, Binh Dinh is proposing to the Central Government to consider which fishing vessels are required to install voyage monitoring devices. If not implemented, it will be very difficult to remove the EC tag. In the long term, the province will have more fundamental and drastic solutions to combat IUU fishing," said Mr. Lam Hai Giang.

Mr. Ho Quoc Dung - Secretary of Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee said that in reality, this amount of support is not large, 218 fishing boats with more than 2 billion VND. However, this is very necessary, for Binh Dinh to join hands to remove the IUU "yellow card".

In the spirit that the entire political system from the central to local levels must participate, doing everything to join hands to remove the IUU "yellow card", Binh Dinh must do it thoroughly and resolutely.

Previously, Binh Dinh had a support policy for fishing vessels of 15m or more. Now, it continues to have a support policy for fishing vessels of 12-15m, mainly engaged in squid fishing. 218 of these vessels operate in the South, which is a group at risk.

"Now... is the "holding your breath" period, this October, the EU will send the 5th inspection team to Vietnam, the 4 previous inspection teams all assessed that it was not up to standard, there were still violations. Binh Dinh, Kien Giang, Ca Mau are the 3 places with the most violations, the 3 key places for the Prime Minister to direct and these 3 provinces must review their responsibilities to send to the Prime Minister", Mr. Ho Quoc Dung said and said: "This is very painful, so supporting fishing boats is very necessary, so that Binh Dinh can join hands to remove the yellow card".

The Binh Dinh Secretary said that the Politburo and the Secretariat have assigned the Supreme People's Court and the Council of Judges to issue Resolution 04, applicable nationwide, on criminal prosecution of acts related to illegal exploitation, trading, and transportation of aquatic products.

This is an unprecedented action, meaning that it does not stop at administrative handling, but raises it to criminal handling, for 8 violations.

In particular, fishermen who illegally fish in territorial waters, remove navigation equipment and send it to other fishing vessels, are all subject to criminal prosecution...

"With Resolution 04, along with determination from the Central to local levels, and the entire political system participating, I am confident that we will remove the EU yellow card," Mr. Ho Quoc Dung affirmed.