Fishing boat caught using electric generator in Quảng Ninh

QUẢNG NINH – Officers from the Trà Cổ border guard station in the northern province of Quảng Ninh seized a fishing boat on Thursday. The boat was allegedly using an electric generator to catch fish; a method which has been banned due to its harmful side effects. 

The owner of the vessel, Nguyễn Văn Trần, 50, from Móng Cái City’s Vạn Ninh Commune, said he had purchased the electric generator at a shop in the town of Quảng Yên for the purpose of catching seafood, despite knowing it was illegal.    

The border guard officials seized all equipment and fined Trần.

In accordance with the Decree 103/2013/NĐ-CP dated September 2013, using electric generator to catch fish and other marine species is banned and violators face a fine from VNĐ1 million (US$44) to VNĐ30 million ($1,300) depending on specific offences.

During the two-month crackdown on illegal seafood exploitation, the Trà Cổ border guard station has uncovered 17 cases, of which 14 are related to the use of electric generators for fishing.

On March 31, Quảng Ninh Province’s Border Guard Command destroyed 105 electric generators, 700kg of wire, four machines, and ten home-made electric guns, as well as 27 sets of batteries and other fishing equipment. — VNS