(vasep.com.vn) According to Tra Vinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, 217 out of 260 offshore fishing vessels in the province (accounting for 83,46%) have been fitted with vessel monitoring system (VMS) to facilitate the management and protection of fishermen and sovereignty at national sea.
Installation of vessel monitoring system with a view to protecting fishermen and sovereignty at sea
Tra Vinh provincial waters serve as crossroad for both domestic and international waterways in and out of the Mekong Delta’s major ports. The province therefore places a high value on assisting fishermen in exploiting maritime resources while also safeguarding the country's sovereignty over the sea and islands. Over the years, the agricultural sector has closely coordinated with the Provincial Border Guard Command and coastal localities to propagate and encourage fishermen to strictly adhere to the provisions of the law on fishing, regulations on organization currently engaged in fishery activities at sea; establish offshore fishing group support each other in catching fish and ensuring safety at sea.
Currently, the province has already organized fishermen to form 53 cooperative groups with 230 members, 17 rescue boat groups, and is deciding to form new production solidarity groups in line with existing legislation, conditions, and the fishing ground.
Tra Vinh also has about 900 registered fishing vessels, in addition to the 260 offshore-fishing vessels. Border guards and the government urge owners of these fishing boats to join the "Safe Boat Team," which is a self-managing organization of vessels that respond quickly and help each other when they have issues at sea, subsequently contribute to ensuring the sovereignty and security of the maritime boundary.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang, the locality will have finished the installation of vessel monitoring system for those which length is more than 15m as regulated by the end of February 2022, thanks to the continued efforts of border guards
According to Law On Fisheries 2017, Kien Giang has finished the installation of vessel monitoring system for 3,664 fishing vessels fishing offshore. Since September 2021, there have been no reports of fishing vessels in Kien Giang, which is in violation of European Commission anti-IUU fishing legislation.
Compiled by Khanh Linh
Source: The Vietnam Times