Strengthening propaganda and dissemination of laws for fishermen in marine fisheries exploitation

The Law on Vietnam Coast Guard was passed by the National Assembly on November 19, 2018, officially taking effect from July 1, 2019, consisting of 8 chapters and 41 articles, regulating the position, functions, tasks, powers, organization and operation of the Vietnam Coast Guard; regimes and policies for the Vietnam Coast Guard; responsibilities of relevant agencies, organizations and individuals.

One of the 7 main tasks of the Coast Guard force as stipulated in Article 8 of the Law on Vietnam Coast Guard is: Propagating, disseminating and educating the law for fishermen in exploiting aquatic resources at sea.

After nearly 4 years, the “yellow card” penalty from the European Commission (EC) for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has had a huge impact on millions of Vietnamese fishermen. On a macro level, our country has fallen from the number one position in seafood exports to the fourth position in 2019, after the markets of Japan, the US, South Korea and ASEAN. If the EC continues to issue a “red card” warning,Vietnam will lose seafood export market to Europe (EU)with a loss of about 480 million USD. Fully aware that the violation will greatly affect the Vietnamese seafood brand and directly the income of fishermen, along with the drastic and synchronous participation of the Government and related ministries and branches, the Vietnam Coast Guardhas been making efforts to join hands to remove the "yellow card" in order to develop the fisheries industry safely, sustainably and stabilize the livelihoods of millions of fishermen who depend on fishing.

We all know that whether the EC's "yellow card" warning on Vietnam's seafood exports is lifted or not depends largely on the awareness and responsibility of each local government with a sea area and especially fishermen when participating in fishing at sea. Clearly recognizing that, in recent times, the Coast Guard has stepped up propaganda, dissemination and legal education activities (PBGDPL) to contribute to raising fishermen's awareness of complying with the law when fishing at sea. At the same time, actively coordinate with functional forces to inspect, monitor, detect, prevent and handle IUU violations by fishermen.

Major General Bui Quoc Oai - Political Commissar of Vietnam Coast Guard promotes IUU and presents national flags to fishermen at Bach Long Vi Port (November 2020). Photo courtesy of Canhsatbien.vn

Major General Bui Quoc Oai - Political Commissar of the Vietnam Coast Guard said that in 2020 and the first 6 months of 2021, the propaganda work of the Coast Guard has achieved many encouraging results. The entire force directly organized propaganda for nearly 7,000 fishermen in coastal provinces; more than 5,000 fishermen/more than 1,300 fishing vessels fishing in the seas, especially the border areas of Vietnam - Malaysia, Vietnam - Indonesia, Vietnam - Thailand strictly complied with the Fisheries Law, regulations on combating IUU fishing, and did not violate foreign waters to illegally exploit seafood.

The Coast Guard Command has regularly coordinated with central and local news agencies and newspapers to publish more than 400 news and articles on mass mobilization activities combined with propaganda against IUU fishing for boat owners and fishermen, and many reports on activities against illegal fishing. In addition, the Coast Guard Command has also continued to implement the model of "Coast Guard accompanying fishermen" with propaganda and orientation contents on sea and island work, guiding fishermen to fish offshore, go offshore to exploit seafood in accordance with the law, and combat IUU fishing... The propaganda and mobilization activities have brought about great effectiveness and influence to fishermen in coastal localities.

The Command of Coast Guard Region 1 propagates IUU to fishermen in Quang Yen town (Quang Ninh). Photo courtesy of Canhsatbien.vn

Major General Bui Quoc Oai also affirmed that preventing and combating IUU fishing is the task of all levels, sectors, Party committees and local authorities, especially coastal localities. Therefore, coordination between functional forces plays a very important and necessary role, this is the resource and strength to successfully complete the task. In the coming time, the Coast Guard will continue to coordinate with functional forces such as Border Guard, Fisheries Surveillance, Navy, local authorities of coastal provinces and cities to effectively implement the direction of the Standing Secretariat on strengthening leadership and direction of the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing; direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of National Defense and the Steering Committee of the Ministry of National Defense on the work of combating IUU fishing.

In addition, the Coast Guard also continues to maintain patrols and control of overlapping areas and seas bordering Vietnam with Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia to affirm sovereignty, disseminate laws to fishermen, promptly detect and prevent fishing vessels showing signs of illegally fishing in foreign waters, promptly resolve disputes and protect fishermen at sea. Resolutely and strictly handle fishing vessels and captains who intentionally violate and illegally take fishing vessels to foreign waters. Proactively grasp the situation in related seas and areas; promptly detect acts of brokerage and investment for fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally fish in foreign waters, organize the return of fishing vessels and fishermen arrested by foreign countries to Vietnam, etc.

In particular, in the coming time, agencies and units in the entire force will strengthen close coordination with local authorities of coastal provinces and cities and functional agencies to propagate, disseminate and educate fishermen about the law on the implementation of anti-IUU fishing, about what not to do to ensure compliance with IUU regulations, about the impact of IUU violations that will directly impact the overall picture of Vietnam's seafood exports to the EU and seriously affect the development of Vietnam's fisheries. Thereby, helping fishermen grasp the scope of Vietnam's waters, voluntarily comply with the law when operating at sea, not violate foreign waters to illegally catch seafood, and join efforts with all levels, sectors and the whole country to remove the "yellow card" for Vietnam's seafood exports./.