The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organised a conference to discuss solutions to overcome shortcomings and limitations in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing on September 29 in Ho Chi Minh City.

It was reported at the conference that since the beginning of the year, 85 vessels with 704 Vietnamese fishermen in62 cases were seized and handled by other countries for being involved in violations of foreign waters. Of that, violations in 43 cases with 58 vessels and  440 fishermen were identified while the other cases are still under investigation as they happened in the area of ​​​​overlapping, disputed waters, historical waters, or unknown locations.

Malaysia is the country that found the most violations of Vietnamese fishing vessels - 20 cases with 28 ships and 253 fishermen, followed by Thailand (18 cases with 21 vessels and 109 fishermen), Indonesia ( 4 cases with 8 vessels and 71 fishermen).

Kien Giang is the province with the most cases of fishing vessels violating foreign waters having been reported this year with 16 cases/ 20 vessels and 190 fishermen, mainly in Chau Thanh and An Bien districts, Ha Tien town, and Rach Gia city.

The southern province of Ben Tre had six cases with nine vessels and 53 fishermen reported, mostly in the districts of Ba Tri and Binh Dai.

Ca Mau province had 6 cases with 6 vessels and 41 fishermen, concentrated in Tran Van Thoi district; Ba Ria - Vung Tau 4 cases/8 vessels/55 fishermen, concentrated in Long Dien district; Binh Dinh 4 cases/5 vessels/31 fishermen, concentrated in Phu Cat district; Khanh Hoa 2 cases/4 vessels/36 fishermen, concentrated in Ninh Hoa district, Nha Trang city; Binh Thuan 2 cases / 3 vessels / 19 fishermen, concentrated in La Gi town; Quang Ngai 2 cases/ 2 vessels / 9 fishermen, concentrated in Binh Son and Duc Pho districts; Bac Lieu 1 case / 1 vessel/ 6 fishermen in Dong Hai district.

Although the number of Vietnamese fishing vessels violating foreign waters is still high, the sanctions for those violations were not strict and the level of punishment is not consistent among localities.

Authorities at all levels in some localities are still subjective, have not paid proper attention, and lack inspection and supervision over the issue. Coordination between functional forces in investigating and sanctioning has not been synchronised and timely.

Public awareness of the issue is not high. The act of brokering and luring fishing vessels to illegally fish in foreign waters has not yet been handled.

The decline in aquatic resources and the continued consumption of aquatic products from violating vessels are blamed for the happening of foreign waters violations.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said that to curb the number of fishing vessels that violate foreign waters, the ministry tightened inspections over the last three years, going to every fishing port and examining vessels’ diaries.

“The ministry would evaluate, summarise and report to the Prime Minister on the units, provinces, and cities that have not strictly obeyed laws, and regulations,” he said, adding that they expected more practical effective solutions for law enforcement for fishing activities at sea.

According to Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, fishing vessels violating foreign waters are found in some specific districts and only a few communes in those districts. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will coordinate with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and localities to review the communes with violating vessels. Vessel owners and fishermen must aware that those violations greatly affect Vietnam's seafood exports to Europe and other markets, as well as affect the national image.

Translated by Hien Anh