Responsible for fisheries-related patrolling, controlling, detecting and handling violations of the law and inspection; protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, maintaining a peaceful environment at sea; search and rescue and protecting fishermen, over the years, the 2nd Fisheries Surveillance Sub-department has promoted its role as a solid fulcrum for fishermen to go offshore fishing.

In response to the request of protecting the sovereignty of the sea, islands and the sacred southern continental shelf of the Fatherland, over the years, the Sub-department has thoroughly grasped the Party's resolutions, directives, regulations, orders of the superiors on improving the leadership capacity, combat strength of the Party Committee and its overall quality to create solid changes for building the Sub-department revolutionary, regular, elite, modern, exemplary and typical. Its officers and staff have always performed well their functions and tasks; acted as the pioneer and frontline force in the struggle to protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands and continental shelf of the Fatherland in the spirit of: "Unity, discipline, ingenuity, resilience, mastering the fishing ground, protecting the fishermen".

However, at present, the situation in the East Sea still remains complicated and unpredictable; countries in the Sub-department strengthen their maritime activities and sovereignty claims, and prohibit fishing vessels of Vietnamese fishermen from fishing in some waters of our country, including traditional fishing grounds. Besides, some of our fishermen still conduct  illegal fishing in foreign waters. The vessels and capacity of several fishermen are not qualified to operate long-term offshore, causing risks in the process of fishing, etc. Meanwhile, the Sub-department’s area of operation is large; the level and capacity of its staff are unequal; its facilities are still inadequate. In the face of those difficulties, the Party Committee and commandant of the Sub-department have led and directed the synchronous implementation of many measures to complete its central political task, serving as a solid fulcrum for fishermen to go offshore fishing long time at sea, especially in adjacent waters with foreign countries, contributing to economic recovery after the pandemic and firmly protecting the country's sovereignty over sea, islands and continental shelf.

Informing fisherman about fishing ground

First of all, in order to join hands with all levels and sectors to remove the "yellow card" of the European Commission for Vietnamese seafood, the Sub-department has strived a lot to propagate the regulations on exploitation and conservation of fisheries for fishermen so that they no longer conduct illegal fishing in foreign waters. In particular, it promotes propaganda and dissemination of the law on the sea, focusing on Directive No. 45/CT-TTg dated December 13, 2017 of the Prime Minister on a number of urgent tasks and solutions in the face of European Commission’s warning against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Every year, the Sub-department actively develops plans to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the coastal provinces to unify the content, time and place of propagation. Due to the large area of operation, diverse objects, some of whom are seafarers, the Sub-department actively develops outlines of propaganda, deploys reporters who are experienced and capable for propagation at the fishing ports on the mainland, as well as during patrol, inspection and control at sea. Notably, its staff not only conducted propaganda but also shared difficulties with fishermen, so they have earned positive responses, bringing about practical results.

The Sub-department’s area of operation includes the entire sea area of the DK1 rig house and the waters in the South bordering Indonesia and Malaysia. This area sees the operation of a large number of our fishing vessels, so safety of fishermen on high seas is of its top priority. Currently, most of our fishermen basically adhere to the regulations and ensure safety. However, there are still some operating without registration, report, safety conditions. They even use destructive forms of fishing, and encroach on foreign waters, etc. Meanwhile, neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. are strengthening strict control at sea. They consider illegal fishing as "piracy", and often destroy ships and boats, impose heavy fines and imprisonment for violating fishermen. In some cases, they even use weapons for coercion and suppression.

In the face of the above problems, to ensure that fishermen can feel secured and go fishing offshore legally, the Sub-department holds specialised intensive training courses in fisheries. On a regular or periodical basis, it exchanges and informs the Fisheries Sub-departments of the relevant provinces on the law observance of fishing vessels operating in the waters under its responsibility; exchange and update changes in the number and quality of fishing vessels in order to detect strange and unregistered vessels. In addition, every year, the Sub-department deploys over 100 shorties of ships on patrol, control, inspection and protection of fishing grounds in the adjacent waters as planned, or in the event of a situation. It directs its agencies and units to closely maintain patrolling, controlling and inspecting activities in accordance with the defined sea routes, focusing on areas where fishermen often encroach on foreign waters. When detecting foreign ships fishing in our waters, its vessels follow the procedures, from following, monitoring, approaching and propagating to approaching, encircling, arresting, sanctioning, and handing over to local authorities for handling.

Along with that, it also performs well search and rescue work for fishermen at sea, so that they can safely operate long time. Deeply grasping the guideline of: "fast maneuver, smooth coordination, save people first, save vehicles later" and the “4 on the spot” motto, its staff, especially those directly participating in the search and rescue of distressed fishermen at sea, always consider search and rescue as a task of primary importance, especially in the rainy and stormy season; and that performing this task is "a command from the heart", "saving fisherman is like saving relatives". Therefore, its staff has developed strong will and determination; they are ready to perform their duties when ordered, regardless of difficulties and hardships, even sacrifices to protect the life and property of the State and the people.

During its task execution, the Sub-department directs its functional agencies to actively make strict coordination with friendly units, the Border Guard, the Coast Guard, the Navy, and the local departments and agencies to review and supplement the corrdination, develop and implement plans for search and rescue of fishermen at sea. Its forces actively participate in drills on disaster and disease prevention and relief as planned, thereby they have firmly grasped their tasks, and mastered the plans and process. In order to meet the increasingly demanding requirements and tasks, the Sub-department requires its ships to prepare all search and rescue equipment at the wharf; strictly maintain round the clock duty regime for ready to respond quickly to situations. Remarkably, the Sub-department has combined search and rescue with logistical and technical support for fishermen as a source of help and confidence for fishermen to operate on high seas with high efficiency.

With all the love for the sea and islands, and responsibility for fishermen, the 2nd Fisheries Surveillance Sub-department will do it utmost as a solid fulcrum for fishermen to go offshore, exploit seafood in accordance with regulations, and contribute to soon removing the European Commission's warning for Vietnam's seafood exports and firmly protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the country.

NGO DANG HOAI, Secretary of the Sub-department’s Party Committee