Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Implementing the EC’s recommendations, the agriculturalsector will continue coordinating with localities to tighten the management overfishing vessels to ensure that they operate in the right areas.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment, the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase) has been implementedin 31 localities.
Currently, 82.7% of the fishing vessels with a length of atleast 6m have updated information on VNFishbase, while 97.7% of ships of 15m ormore in length have been installed with vessel monitoring system (VMS).
According to Director of Fisheries Information Centre underthe Directorate of Fisheries Ha Le, in the first seven months of this year, thenumbers of vessels staying uncontacted at sea for more than 6 hours daily and formore than 10 days tend to decrease compared to those of the same period lastyear.
Localities have also been more active in handlingadministrative violations for ships that remain uncontacted for more than 10 days.However, the percentage of administrative punishments is still low, at about 5%.
Therefore, he suggested that localities step upcommunication, inspection and supervision, and strictly handle those violatingregulations on VMS.
In order to closely monitor fishing vessels at sea, and to ensureeffective preparations for the next visit of the fourth EC inspectiondelegation in October, Director of the Department of Vietnam FisheriesSurveillance Nguyen Quang Hung proposed localities continue to strictly implementdirectives by the Prime Minister and the head of the National SteeringCommittee on IUU Fishing Prevention, and to arrange competent and responsibleofficials to perform the work.
Localities should take strong and resolute measures toprevent fishing vessels from illegally conducting fishing activities in foreign waters, strictlycontrol those entering and leaving ports, monitor their output, and comply withproduct certification and traceability regulations./.
VNA
