Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Kien Giang (VNA) – Implementing the Government’s Decree No67/2014/ND-CP on offshore fishing development, the Mekong Delta province ofKien Giang has built and upgraded 59 fishing and logistic ships at total cost of577 billion VND (25.4 million USD).
Of the sum, 410 billion VND were sourced from credit loans to supportlocal fishermen. To date, 38 ships were put into operation.
The decree, which came into effect in August 2014, stipulates policieson investment, credit, insurance and tax incentives to support fishermen andship owners who wish to build new fishing boats, upgrade existing boats and buyfishing and marine equipment, among others.
The provincial fishery sector has worked with relevant authorities andother coastal provinces to raise awareness among fishermen, putting an end toillegal fishing in foreign waters.
Vietnam received a“yellow-card” from the European Commission (EC) because of its failure to meetstandards over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing last year, andthe country has been offered the opportunity to take measures to rectify thesituation within six months. The EU will assess Vietnam’s efforts to fight IUUfishing in April.
The "yellowcard" is followed by a "green card" if issues are resolved or a"red card" if they are not. A “red card” can lead to a trade ban onfishery products.
On December 13, 2017,Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued Directive 45/CT-TTg on some urgent tasksand solutions following the EC’s warning.
To carry out the directive effectively, the province has intensifiedinspections over fishing activities, and taken strict punishment againstviolations of regulations on fishing and ship registrations and management.
In addition, KienGiang has launched a project to improve the quality of product values, reducinglosses as well as apply advanced technology to preserve products after harvest.It is also devising a project to inspect and re-arrange local fishingactivities in Kien Giang’s waters.
The province boasts afishing ground of more than 63,000 sq.km. Since the start of 2018, Kien Giang’sseafood output exceeded 90,000 tonnes, equivalent to 16 percent of the year’splan and up 4.6 percent year-on-year. In 2017, the figure was above 548,000tonnes, accounting for 20 percent of the country’s output.-VNA
VNA
