Khanh Hoa shows high determination in IUU fishing combat

The south-central province of Khanh Hoa has taken a series of strong measures to manage its fleet and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, showing the coastal locality’s high determination in protecting aquatic resources and marine environment.

In a recent meeting of the Khanh Hoa Steering Committee for IUU Prevention and Control, Tran Hoa Nam, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and head of the committee, ordered department, sectors, and coastal localities across the province to implement drastic measures against IUU fishing, especially in July and August, aiming to firmly maintain achievements and ensuring no violations in the future.

Nam underlined the need to focus on issues related to controlling fishing boats without licences and vessel monitoring systems (VMS) as well as the origin of seafood through the electronic seafood traceability software eCDT, and supporting fishing vessels in paying satellite service fee for VMS operations.

According to the provincial Steering Committee for IUU Prevention and Control, since the European Commission imposed a "yellow card" warning on Vietnamese seafood, Khanh Hoa has worked hard and recorded important progress in enhancing local fishermen’s awareness of IUU fishing regulations and fleet management.

Along with strengthening communications for more than 1,000 fishermen on IUU prevention and control regulations, the province has issued exploitation licences to 98% of the local fleet and installed the VMS devices on 99.6% of the local fishing boats with a length of 15m and above.

However, due to the unclear demarcation of sea borders in the East Sea, there is a high risk for Vietnamese fishing vessels to violate foreign waters, the committee said, adding that the province is also facing difficulties in maintaining contacts with fishing vessels and maintaining harmonious application of the eCDT software.

To deal with these difficulties, Khanh Hoa has tightened the supervision of seafood at seaports, and increasing patrols in boundary sea areas.

Nguyen Van Ba, head of the management board of Hon Ro fishing seaport, said that a list of the local fleet has been sent to neighbouring localities for cooperation in management, while the use of the eCDT software has been improved.

Local fishermen’s awareness of fisheries regulations has been improved, he said, adding that last year, the port handled nearly 3,000 fishing boats and issued 270 certificates of seafood origin.

Currently, Khanh Hoa has four fishing ports of Hon Ro, Da Bac, Vinh Luong, and Dai Lanh, along with Ninh Hai boat shelter./