Ninh Binh cracks down on IUU fishing, joining nationwide efforts to have EC’s yellow card warning lifted

Nowadays, officers and soldiers at Hai Thinh Port Border Guard Station have maintained round-the-clock duty to check legal documents and vessel monitoring system (VMS) devices so as to ensure that 100% of vessels met requirements for leaving the port.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Nhu Hoan, Deputy Commander of the Hai Thinh Port Border Guard Station, said: "During inspections, we always combine it with disseminating information, distributing leaflets, and guiding fishermen on legal regulations related to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, reminding them of common violations and penalties. Especially regarding VMS (Vehicle Monitoring System), we remind fishermen to resolutely avoid situations where they 'forget' or 'break' their devices while still fishing.”

The 'digitalisation' process through the electronic seafood traceability system (eCDT) has been widely implemented. Basically, all vessels leaving and arriving at the port complete procedures through the eCDT system.

After the merger, Ninh Binh province has new development space with nearly 90 km of coastline." Currently, the province has 1,381 fishing vessels with a length of six metres or more, of which 601 vessels are 15 metres or longer, making them mandatory to install VMS equipment.

To address the EC’s recommendations in combating IUU fishing, Ninh Binh province has tightened the management of fishing vessels. To date, 100% of fishing vessels have been registered and inspected, meeting the operating requirements, having their registration numbers written, marking their vessels according to regulations, being granted fishing licenses, and updating their information in the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase).

The province maintains a round-the-clock monitoring system to ensure continuous connectivity from the time vessels leave the ports until they return. The relevant unit has sent over 2,800 warning messages and made phone calls to fishermen when there are signs of signal loss or when they are near the boundary of the permitted sea area.

Ninh Binh province is implementing strong measures to handle IUU fishing violations. The rate of handling fishing vessels that have lost VMS connection reached 100%, while 17 cases of violations related to incorrect vessel marking and registration number writing were penalised.

Ninh Binh province is still striving to modernise its catch control process, deploying the Electronic Traceability System (eCDT); and guiding businesses to complete dossiers to have more fishing ports certified as Type II fishing ports, thereby expanding its catch monitoring capacity.

The task of combating IUU fishing is not a short-term task to cope with the inspection team, but a comprehensive reform aimed at sustainable development. In the coming time, Ninh Binh province will continue to direct relevant agencies and units to closely manage the fishing fleet. In particular, the Provincial People's Committee requires commune authorities to assign officials to specifically monitor each fishing vessel and strengthen communication to help fishermen better understand the regulations on combating IUU fishing.

Ninh Binh is entering a crucial phase to welcome the EC’s inspection team, affirming its position as a leading locality in the nationwide effort to have the EC's yellow card removed and pave the way for sustainable fisheries development./.