Luu Hoang Ly, Director of the provincialDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that since mid-2021, therehas been no local fishing vessel violating foreign waters.
Meanwhile, the installation of vessel monitoring systems(VMS) has contributed to managing fishing boats and prevent IUU fishing activities,he said.
Nguyen Trong Han, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee ofDong Hai, home to one half of total fishing vessels in Bac Lieu, said thatlocal authorities have actively popularised fishing regulations, thus improvingpeople’s awareness in the field.
Le Viet Dung, a local fishermen in Gianh Hao township, DongHai district, said that thanks to the information provided by local authorities in IUUfishing prevention and control regulations, he and his fellow fishermen haveunderstood the benefits of the removal of the yellow card to them as well asthe country’s seafood export.
Regarding the benefits from VMS installation, Tran Van Thanh, a local of VinhThinh commune, Hoa Binh district, said that along with the function insupervising the vessels, the system is also helpful in reporting emergencycircumstances.
According to Ly, in the time to come, Bac Lieu will reviewthe outcomes of the implementation of the EC’s four recommendations on IUUfishing prevention and combat, while effectively realising directions from theGovernment in the field.
The province will coordinate with other relevant forces to organise a working group to inspectIUU fishing activities and the issuance of registration and food safetycertificates to fishing vessels.
The department will update local vessel data to the national fisheriesdatabase, while making a list of those with high risks of conducting IUUfishing so as to make timely settlement, he said, adding that communications on IUUfishing prevention and combat will continue to be strengthened.
The official underlined that Bac Lieu is determined tocompletely end local fishing vessels’ violations to foreign waters, and makecontributions to the country’s efforts to persuade the EC to remove the yellowcard on national fisheries sector./.