Soc Trang province intensifies efforts to clamp down on illegal fishing

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

According to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Quach Thi Thanh Binh, the province currently has 804 registered fishing vessels, including 341 vessels that have a length of 15 metres or above. While 628 vessels have been granted fishing permits, and 175 do not have proper licenses due to operational inefficiencies or discontinued use.

For damaged vessels no longer in operation, local authorities have guided their owners to complete the deregistration process in the national VNFishbase database, she said, adding that with the remaining vessels, their owners have received support in renewing fishing permits and technical safety certificates before April 20.

Lieutenant Colonel Ha The Huu, Deputy Chief of Staff of the provincial Border Guard Command, highlighted the force’s close supervision over fishing vessels operating in local waters. He said the border soldiers have carried out awareness campaigns to raise fishermen’s understanding of IUU fishing prevention.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vuong Quoc Nam said that all of the province’s active fishing vessels have installed monitoring devices, with the provincial People's Council providing a two-year subsidy for monitoring system fees. Since 2023, no vessel exceeding 24 metres has disconnected its tracking systems for more than six hours, and no vessel has lost connections for more than ten days. Particularly, no local vessels have been caught fishing illegally in foreign waters.

Moving forward, the province will strengthen monitoring of fishing logbooks, catch volumes, and tracking devices, while promptly addressing violations. Officials will also assist vessel owners with renewing permits and technical safety certifications. Besides, due attention will be given to popularising the 2017 Fisheries Law and related laws, he stressed./.