Fishing - Exploitation or Extermination?

Full of violations
Recently, the authorities of Nghe An province have continuously detected and handled many violations. Most recently, on March 14, 2018, while patrolling an area about 1 nautical mile southeast of Hon Ngu Island, the patrol force of Cua Lo - Ben Thuy Port Border Guard Station (Nghe An Border Guard) discovered and arrested 3 vehicles using dredges and electric rakes to illegally catch seafood.

Nghe An provincial authorities inspect fishing boats violating regulations. Photo: Phuong Thao

The seized vessels include boat number NA 4706TS owned by Mr. Tran Van Tinh (39 years old), from Dien Thanh commune, Dien Chau district, which was exploiting seafood using a trawler in the wrong direction; a boat without a registration number owned by Mr. Nguyen Doan Doan (44 years old), from Tan Nho block, Nghi Hai ward, Cua Lo town, and a vessel with registration number HT 2015TS owned by Mr. Nguyen Van Nham (56 years old), from Xuan Hoi commune, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province, which was exploiting seafood using an electric trawler.

On the same day, Nghe An Fisheries Surveillance ships were patrolling and controlling at sea when they discovered two fishing boats using electric shock to catch seafood near shore, the boats of fishermen Nguyen Van Trieu in Tien Thuy commune, Quynh Luu district and Vu Sy Thanh in Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau district. Upon inspection, Nghe An Fisheries Surveillance forces discovered that the two boats contained two shock absorbers and hundreds of meters of electric wire.

In the first 3 months of 2018 alone, the inspection force of Nghe An Fisheries Department has recorded administrative violations against 23 vehicles, of which 16 vehicles used electric shock tools, 4 vehicles exploited in the wrong direction, with a total fine of 121 million VND, confiscated 16 electric shock kits, 70m of electric wire.

The above acts are not permitted by law because they are destructive forms of exploitation, leaving great and long-term harm to the natural environment, especially near-shore areas. For example, for trawling, the method is to spread nets with very small holes in horizontal rows, and wherever the ship goes, it will collect all aquatic and marine species. With this method of fishing, even small fish and shrimp cannot escape, and coral reefs are destroyed.

According to regulations, large-capacity trawlers are only licensed to fish offshore and in certain sea areas. However, when the season comes for aquatic and marine species to spawn, many trawlers disregard regulations, fishing in the wrong direction, and fishing close to shore to harvest all the fish.
More common is the use of explosives and electric guns for fishing. With just a simple connection from an electric generator to a battery and a pair of iron claws attached to the front of the boat, this system creates a very strong electric pulse, capable of destroying many aquatic and marine species within close range.

Need long term solution

According to Mr. Tran Chau Thanh - Head of Inspection and Legal Department, Nghe An Fisheries Sub-Department, for vessels that are regulated to fish in offshore and coastal areas but still operate near shore, the activities of the subjects are very sophisticated, avoiding all control of the inspection force, coast guard...

Meanwhile, the specialized force is weak in both human and material resources, so it is difficult to cover. As for the situation of using prohibited equipment to exploit aquatic and marine products by coastal fishermen, the main cause stems from difficult economic conditions, they do not have enough capital to convert to high-capacity fishing equipment in the open sea. Meanwhile, they only need to spend a few tens to a few hundred thousand dong to buy explosives and electric wires to use, which is both convenient and gives high output, from which arises the story of overharvesting in a destructive manner.
From the causes leading to the above persistent situation, Nghe An authorities need to synchronously deploy many solutions to promptly prevent and protect the long-term livelihoods of coastal residents. For fishing vessels operating in the wrong direction, it is necessary to resolutely and strictly handle them according to regulations to increase deterrence, strengthen inspections and receive reports from the people.

At Nghe An Fisheries Sub-Department, in the first quarter of 2018, 32 calls were received via hotline, of which 11 calls reported fishing trawlers fishing close to shore, 2 calls reported fishing boats using electric shock. Thanks to that, the authorities quickly approached the violations and handled them promptly.
For fishermen who engage in destructive fishing inshore, it is necessary to increase propaganda and have plans to change their occupations and create livelihoods for them. Currently, the State is encouraging investment in building large ships to go offshore and paying attention to fishing in clean fishing grounds according to the clean seafood supply chain. Realizing this policy effectively is a long-term solution to prevent the above-mentioned destructive fishing.

Electric shock and explosives used to catch aquatic and marine products were seized. Photo: Phuong Thao

In addition, the key solution is to help people understand the consequences of illegal fishing activities, helping them realize that ending destructive fishing is the best way to regenerate natural aquatic and marine resources and maintain their own long-term livelihoods.

This requires the drastic and synchronous participation of local authorities and functional agencies, creating high synchronization and unity in the fight to prevent and preserve marine ecosystems.

According to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 14, Decree 103/2013/ND-CP of the Government on administrative sanctions for violations in fisheries activities, fishing in prohibited areas or using destructive fishing gear at sea will be fined from 6 to 8 million VND.