These devices are compulsory for vessels with length of 24 metres or more under EC regulations.
To date, 382 out of 500 boats subject to the provincial installation scheme have been fitted with the device. The province aims to complete the work by July this year, according to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Chau Cong Bang.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Tien Hai said the installation is necessary to improve the management over fishing activities, the operation of search and rescue work, and prompt handling of arising conflicts at sea.
Ca Mau has more than 5,000 fishing vessels of all kinds which operate frequently in Ca Mau’s waters, not to mention vessels from other localities. Local agencies have recently detected many violations of fishing regulations, causing damage to near-shore marine sources.
The EC imposed a “yellow card” warning on Vietnam in October 2017 after the country had failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Countries that fail to meet EC standards are given a "yellow card", followed by a "green card" if the problems are resolved, or a "red card" if they are not. A red card can lead to a trade ban on fishery products.
