Circular No. 01/2007/TT-BTS guiding the implementation of certain contents of Decree No. 56/2005/NĐ-CP dated April 26, 2005 of the Government on agricultural extension and fisheries extension.

CIRCULAR

Circular No. 01/2007/TT-BTS of the Ministry of Fisheries guiding the implementation of certain contents of the Government's Decree No. 56/2005/NĐ-CP dated April 26, 2005 on agricultural extension and fisheries extension.

Based on the Government's Decree No. 43/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 2, 2003 stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Fisheries;

Based on the Government's Decree No. 56/2005/NĐ-CP dated April 26, 2005 on agricultural extension and fisheries extension;

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The Ministry of Fisheries guides the implementation of certain contents regarding fisheries extension work as follows:

1. This Circular guides the implementation of the content, method of operation, and organization of fisheries extension.

2. Management and use of funds for fisheries extension activities and fisheries extension policies shall be implemented in accordance with Joint Circular No. 30/2006/TTLT-BTC-BNN&PTNT-BTS dated April 6, 2006..

This technical regulation sets out technical requirements, testing methods, sampling procedures; management requirements; responsibilities of organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing cigarettes.

3. Fisheries extension activities include the following fields: information dissemination and propaganda; training and capacity building; model development and technology transfer; consulting and service provision; international cooperation in fisheries extension.

4. Organizations providing consulting and services for fisheries extension under Article 7 of the Government's Decree No. 56/2005/NĐ-CP are organizations established in accordance with the law to disseminate techniques, manage, and provide information on costs, prices, marketability of products to fishermen and farmers, and widely promote scientific and technological advancements in fishing, protecting aquatic resources, aquaculture, processing, and fishery post-harvest services for all types of economic entities.

5. New technology model in fisheries extension is a new technology development model for aquaculture that has not existed before, aiming to lead the way in science and technology.

6. High-tech model in fisheries extension is a model with advanced technology that significantly increases productivity and efficiency compared to traditional technology and ensures sustainable development.

II. CONTENTS, METHODS OF OPERATION AND ORGANIZATION OF FISHERIES EXTENSION

1. Contents of fisheries extension activities

1.1. Information dissemination and propaganda.

a) Market information includes: fluctuations in supply and demand for goods in domestic and foreign markets; price and transportation cost information; production technology and product quality standards; trade-related legal documents; results of trade negotiations and agreements; production and marketing information; fishery field forecast information; construction and promotion of brand names (trade names, trademarks, origin names of goods); development of the aquaculture market under conditions of trade liberalization;

b) Public information includes: establishing channels, programs, columns, and websites for fisheries extension on television, radio stations, central and local newspapers; web pages, email boxes for fisheries extension (with the participation of research institutes, centers, schools, excellent aquaculture and fisheries producers, organizations and individuals engaged in fisheries extension);

c) Information on legal regulations in the fisheries sector includes: provisions on sustainable aquaculture development, food safety management, disease control, chemical and feed usage in aquaculture;

d) Distribution of various forms of fisheries extension publications such as magazines, newsletters, leaflets, posters, tapes, discs, technical manuals, directories of fisheries extension addresses serving the needs of different groups of rural and fisheries households during industrialization, modernization, and international integration.

1.2. Capacity building, training, and education.

a) Development of fisheries extension materials to enhance knowledge in technical skills, economic management, production organization, marketing skills, and the dissemination of legal knowledge to farmers and fishermen;

b) Conducting vocational training courses for fishermen;

c) Capacity building, training, and education for fisheries extension staff.

1.3. Model development and technology transfer in fisheries.

a) Summarizing successful models in: cultivation, harvesting, preservation, processing, fishery post-harvest services, circulation, and marketing for wide-scale dissemination;

b) Developing various types of fisheries extension models for individual farmers, farmsteads, seafood business owners, urban farmers;

c) Developing various types of fisheries extension models applying new technologies and high technologies at different levels suitable for economic conditions, production capabilities, and ecological conditions of each region.

1.4. Consulting and service provision, promoting production.

Fisheries extension staff advise farmers and fishermen on policies and laws, develop production plans, select equipment and technology, manage production, provide market information, raw materials, seedlings, feed, medicine, trade promotion, environmental protection solutions.

1.5. International cooperation.

Through international cooperation, fisheries extension imports new production technologies and breeds, exchanges experiences to improve the management level and work experience of fisheries extension staff, thereby helping the government to effectively promote aquaculture production and trade promotion suitable for specific local conditions.

2. Hierarchical implementation of fisheries extension activities

2.1. Building fisheries extension programs, projects, and plans for approval by competent authorities.

At the central level: The Ministry of Fisheries builds and submits to the Government for approval short-term and long-term national fisheries extension programs, projects, and plans. The Ministry of Fisheries approves detailed annual fisheries extension plans.

At the provincial level: Provincial Fisheries Departments or Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development build and submit to the People's Committees of provinces, district economic departments build and submit to the People's Committees of districts for approval short-term and long-term fisheries extension programs, projects, and plans at the local level. Provincial Fisheries Departments or Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, and district-level People's Committees approve detailed annual implementation plans.

2.2. Organizing the implementation of fisheries extension activities.

The National Fisheries Extension Center directly organizes the implementation of short-term and long-term national and regional fisheries extension programs, projects, and plans according to approved plans.

Fisheries Extension Centers, Agricultural Extension Centers, Aquaculture Centers, District Fisheries and Agricultural Extension Stations organize the implementation of short-term and long-term provincial and district fisheries extension programs, projects, and plans according to approved plans.

2.3. Capacity building, training, and education in fisheries extension.

The Fisheries Promotion Center, Agricultural Promotion Center, Aquatic Products Center, and County-level Agricultural and Fisheries Extension Stations shall implement short-term and long-term fisheries promotion programs, projects, and plans at the provincial and county levels according to approved schedules.

2.3. Training, instruction, and education in fisheries promotion.

Provide training and instruction for fishery farmers and fishery promotion officers at the grassroots level, not exceeding 7 days.

2.4. Develop fishery promotion models and transfer aquaculture technology.

a) Demonstration models regarding new technical advancements, technologies, and equipment introduced to local production for the first time, with the following scale for each demonstration point:

+ The scale of a model for each participating fishery farmer household:

- Poverty alleviation model from 200 to 1,000 square meters²

- Extensive farming model not exceeding 5 hectares

- Semi-intensive farming model not exceeding 2 hectares

- Intensive farming model not exceeding 1 hectare

- Cage fish farming model not exceeding 100 meters³

+ The scale of a model for each farm owner, enterprise, or cooperative:

- Extensive farming model not exceeding 10 hectares

- Semi-intensive farming model not exceeding 5 hectares

- Intensive farming model not exceeding 3 hectares

- Cage farming model not exceeding 1,000 meters³

+ Fishing, mechanical, and post-harvest service models: Scale of 1 to 2 units of fishing vessels.

+ Aquatic product processing, preservation, and manufacturing models: Scale of 3 to 5 facilities.

b) Disseminate models widely including activities such as mid-term review, final evaluation, assessment of models, organizing field trips, exchanges, seminars at the site, and disseminating results through appropriate media.

c) New technology and high-tech fishery promotion models according to regulations of the Ministry of Fisheries.

2.5. Advisory and service for fishery promotion.

Organizations shall choose advisory and service forms based on specific conditions as follows:

a) Establish centers, offices, and points for advisory and service for fishery promotion in accordance with the provisions of the law;

b) Develop columns, email forums for advisory and service for fishery promotion on mass media and at convenient locations for fishery farmers;

c) Collaborate with organizations and individuals to act as intermediaries for advisory and service for fishery promotion to meet the needs of fishery farmers;

d) Supply aquatic materials and techniques under economic contracts.

2.6. Hierarchical management of fishery promotion programs, projects, and plans implemented through the following methods:

a) Departments and agencies under the Ministry of Fisheries shall perform state management functions for fishery promotion as assigned by the Minister of Fisheries; Provincial Fisheries Services and Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development shall perform state management functions for fishery promotion as assigned by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee;

b) The National Fisheries Extension Center shall directly manage and implement national fishery promotion programs, projects, and plans approved by the Ministry of Fisheries;

c) Provincial Fisheries Extension Centers, Agricultural Extension Centers, and Provincial Fisheries Centers shall directly manage and implement provincial fishery promotion programs, projects, and plans approved by the Provincial People's Committee;

d) District Fisheries Extension Stations shall directly implement fishery promotion programs, projects, and plans approved by the District People's Committee;

e) Fishery farmer households and other organizations and individuals shall independently implement fishery promotion programs, projects, and plans assigned and approved by competent authorities.

3. Organization of fishery promotion.

3.1. At the Central Level.

The National Fisheries Extension Center is a public service unit under the Ministry of Fisheries, pursuant to Decision No. 18/2003/QĐ-BTS dated August 5, 2003, and has subordinate centers performing tasks.

The functions, duties, powers, and organizational structure of the National Fisheries Extension Center are stipulated by the Minister of Fisheries. The Center has subordinate training and technology transfer centers.

3.2. At the Provincial Level.

The functions, duties, and organizational structure of local fishery promotion organizations are prescribed in Clause 2, Article 10 of Decree No. 56/2005/NĐ-CP, and the Ministry of Fisheries provides detailed guidance as follows:

Provincial Fisheries Extension Centers and Provincial Fisheries Centers have a system of subordinate stations and farms and are directly managed by these Centers.

The Director of the Provincial Fisheries Extension Center receives a subsidy coefficient equivalent to that of the Deputy Director of the Provincial Fisheries Department.

Regarding staffing, based on tasks and the scale of development in aquaculture, fishing, preservation, and processing, sufficient numbers and quality of staff must be trained and deployed to meet the requirements of fishery promotion activities in localities.

3.3. At the District Level.

Based on the specific conditions of each locality, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall specify the organization of fishery promotion, the number, and the structure of fishery promotion staff to be allocated appropriately to meet the fishery promotion requirements in the area.

3.4. Grassroots-level fishery promotion organization.

Each commune, ward, or town shall have at least one fisheries extension worker. For coastal communes with developed aquaculture, two or more fisheries extension workers may be allocated; fisheries and agricultural extension workers must have a minimum educational level of secondary vocational school or higher; in remote areas, fisheries extension workers must have at least a general secondary education level or be experienced farmers with credibility and capability in promoting fisheries. The number of provincial and district-level fishery promotion staff is based on the number of fishery farmer households engaged in aquaculture, fishing units, and processing facilities. For aquaculture, one staff member is allocated for every 100 hectares; for fishing, one staff member is allocated for every 200 fishing units; for processing, one staff member is allocated for every 20 processing facilities. Fishery promotion staff with university or vocational school degrees receive salaries according to coefficients, while others receive appropriate allowances based on specific conditions (salaries and allowances are paid from the provincial budget).

Fisheries extension workers and fisheries promotion volunteers are selected and managed by the Commune People's Committee, and are simultaneously guided professionally by the District Fisheries and Agricultural Promotion Organization.

3.5. Other organizations and individuals participating in fishery promotion activities voluntarily shall implement in accordance with Article 12 of Decree No. 56/2005/NĐ-CP and relevant laws.

III. IMPLEMENTATION

1. At the Central Level.

a) The Ministry of Fisheries shall uniformly perform state management functions for fishery promotion activities and assign departments and specialized agencies to directly manage them.

b) Based on the functions and responsibilities of departments and agencies under the Ministry of Fisheries in performing state management functions for fishery promotion, including:

- Organizing the development and reviewing fishery promotion programs, projects, and plans for both short and long terms to submit to the Minister;

- Reviewing and approving annual fishery promotion plans.

- Establishing legal regulatory documents and policies to promote fisheries;

- Cooperating with the Inspectorate of the Ministry to conduct inspections and supervision on promoting fisheries;

- Implementing international cooperation programs on promoting fisheries;

- Identifying scientific and technological advancements for transfer;

c) The National Fisheries Promotion Center:

- Compiling, proposing, and leading the development of programs, projects, plans, and proposals on promoting fisheries through specialized departments and the National Fisheries Promotion Advisory Council's review;

- Organizing the implementation of national fisheries promotion plans approved by the Minister;

- Cooperating with domestic and foreign organizations and individuals engaged in promoting fisheries to enhance investment resources and implement programs, projects, and plans on promoting fisheries;

- Managing and using central fisheries promotion funds in accordance with the objects and legal regulations;

2. At the local level.

a) Provincial Fisheries Departments, Agriculture and Rural Development Departments shall perform state management functions regarding promoting fisheries within their provinces;

b) People's Committees at the district level shall perform state management functions regarding promoting fisheries within their districts;

c) People's Committees at the commune level shall perform state management functions regarding promoting fisheries within their communes. Fisheries promoters and cooperative extension workers directly carry out fisheries promotion activities implemented by the Commune People's Committee and other organizations and individuals;

d) Fisheries Promotion Centers, Agricultural Extension Centers, Aquatic Product Centers manage and use central and local fisheries promotion funds in accordance with the objects and legal regulations. District Fisheries Promotion Stations, Aquatic Product Stations, Agricultural Extension Stations directly implement local and central fisheries promotion programs, projects, and plans within their areas;

IV. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

This Circular takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Previous provisions contrary to this Circular are hereby abolished;

Any difficulties encountered during implementation should be promptly reported to the Ministry of Fisheries for research and resolution./.