(VOVWORLD) - Gia Lai province is stepping up its efforts to disseminate legal information to fishermen, especially new regulations on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, in an effort to join the rest of the country in getting the European Commission's "yellow card" on fisheries lifted.
Preparing for his fishing trip, fisherman Pham Van Tuan carefully checked his vessel tracking device, departure documents, and fishing logbook at Quy Nhon port. Tuan said each trip is not only about making a living, but also requires careful preparation and strict adherence to all laws and regulations.
“Fishermen like us must comply with the law. Only violations will result in penalties. If we have the necessary equipment to go to the fishing grounds, there is nothing to worry about. It seems that if violations occur, the penalties are high, and those responsible will bear full responsibility,” said Tuan.
 Fishermen report their fishing logbooks (Photo: Hoang Qui / VOV correspondent in the Central Highlands) |
Gia Lai province has intensified its efforts to raise awareness about IUU fishing, so that fishermen will understand the penalties, legal responsibilities, and consequences of illegal fishing activities.
Nguyen Anh Dung, Deputy Director of the Quy Nhon Fisheries Port Management Board, said, “A newly-promulgated decree stipulates fines which are several times higher than before. We are advising fishermen to check and monitor their coordinates and fishing location before going out to sea. They must report any loss of connection to shore within six hours to avoid penalties, as the current fines are very high."
"Until electronic logbooks are officially implemented, fishermen must use paper logbooks. In addition to checking the coordinates of fishing vessels, authorities at sea also check the logbooks, so fishermen are doing a good job of this.”
 The Quy Nhon Fisheries Port authorities and boat owners learn about the new regulations via phone. (Photo: Hoang Qui /VOV correspondent in the Central Highlands) |
Gia Lai province now has 5,744 registered fishing vessels, with 100% of eligible vessels having fishing licenses; unqualified vessels have been banned from the sea and are strictly managed.
This year, the province’s fishing vessel monitoring system maintains the around the clock schedule. Electronic fishing logs have been processed for over 3,000 fishing vessels. A smart automatic warning system for vessels crossing boundaries or experiencing prolonged disconnections has been deployed.