Binh Dinh province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development organizes working groups to southern provinces to coordinate activities to manage fishing boats. (Photo: VGP/Minh Trang)

Binh Dinh province has more than 5,300 fishing vessels and 44,500 fishermen. 61% of the fishing vessels are at least 15 meters in length. The province’s agricultural sector has surveyed unregistered fishing vessels, contacted their owners, and explained to them how to complete technical inspection and registration. A working group has been set up for the southern provinces where Binh Dinh’s fishing boats operate, and asked them to sign a commitment not to infringe upon foreign waters.

Tran Van Phuc, Director of Binh Dinh province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: “We’ve strengthened the management of ships most likely to encroach in foreign waters. We’ve organized a working group to coordinate with Ba Ria-Vung Tau province to manage these fishing vessels, instructed 25 ship owners how to install a cruise monitoring device, and banned fishing vessels without monitoring equipment from leaving the port.”

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that after four rounds of EC inspections, the fight against illegal fishing has made progress. The legal framework has been fined tune according to EC recommendations. Management, monitoring, and oversight of fishing vessels has been on the right track and traceability of aquatic products is being strictly implemented.

Nguyen Quang Hung, Director of the Fisheries Surveillance Department, said: “We have to prevent fishing vessels from violating foreign waters by all means and ensure that all fishing vessels are qualified to go on sea voyage . The role of border guards, fishing ports, and local administrative agencies is very important. Localities must manage fishing vessels to ensure that they don’t travel to foreign waters, strengthen traceability at the ports and certification at sub-departments and businesses. 100% of aquatic products exported to the EC and other markets must be legal.”