Directive No. 02/2004/CT-BTS on flood and storm prevention, disaster mitigation, and ensuring safety for people and fishing vessels.

DIRECTIVE OF THE MINISTER OF AQUATIC RESOURCES

Regarding flood and storm prevention and mitigation work to ensure safety for people and fishing vessels

In recent years, due to the impact of global changes, the weather in our country has become increasingly complex; floods and storms have occurred in many places nationwide; although accidents involving fishing vessels at sea have decreased compared to previous years, in some localities, small fishing boats still sink when encountering natural disasters, northeast monsoon, floods, and tropical depressions, causing significant losses in terms of human lives and property.

To proactively prevent and combat floods and storms, mitigate natural disasters, and promptly respond to all situations to minimize losses caused by natural disasters in 2004; the Minister of Fisheries issues this Directive to the directors of fisheries departments, agriculture and rural development departments managing fisheries (hereinafter referred to collectively as fisheries departments), heads of units under the Ministry to implement the following tasks effectively:

1. Organize a comprehensive review and evaluation of the work on flood and storm prevention, search and rescue operations, and disaster aftermath recovery in 2003 to serve as a basis for building effective plans and measures for flood and storm prevention, rescue, and search and rescue operations in 2004 that closely align with the actual situation of each locality and unit.

2. Strengthen and improve the command bodies for flood and storm prevention, search and rescue operations at all levels to ensure consistency from central to local levels. Conduct training and drills for flood and storm prevention and search and rescue operations to enhance awareness and responsibility among the people to actively respond to all natural disaster scenarios. For localities and units frequently affected by typhoons and floods, the unit head shall directly serve as the commander of the flood and storm prevention and search and rescue operation command body.

3. Emphasize and effectively implement the principle of "4 at the spot" (command at the spot; forces at the spot; materials and equipment at the spot; logistics at the spot); fisheries departments must develop close cooperation plans with relevant forces, timely and synchronously directing implementation to maximize combined strength, proactively dealing with the most adverse situations when typhoons, floods, and high tides occur simultaneously, minimizing losses to the lowest extent possible regarding human lives and property of the people and the State.

4. Fisheries departments should strengthen guidance, inspection, and supervision of ensuring safety for people and fishing vessels operating at sea, on rivers, and at anchorage areas for avoiding and sheltering from storms, as well as in aquaculture zones, direct planning for developing aquaculture suitable for typhoon and flood conditions to ensure sustainable production and reduce damage when natural disasters occur.

5. During the rainy and stormy season, ensure the smooth operation of communication networks, warning systems, and forecasting activities in all situations; strictly adhere to duty shifts, proactively handle and resolve natural disaster scenarios, report promptly on typhoon and flood developments to the Standing Committee of the Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue Command Board of the Ministry for consolidation and unified direction throughout the industry.

6. Coastal fisheries departments should develop plans and measures to respond to adverse situations when floods, storms, and high tides occur simultaneously; evacuation plans for residents in low-lying, river mouth, coastal, and dangerous landslide-prone areas to safe locations; rescue plans when natural disasters occur, proactively preventing and mitigating damage, gradually adapting to stabilize living conditions and develop production under frequent natural disaster conditions.

7. Fisheries departments in areas frequently affected by floods and inundations should develop plans and measures to effectively counter prolonged major floods; plans to protect production, infrastructure, and facilities in aquaculture zones to minimize damage.

8. The Department of Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Protection, in collaboration with competent state agencies, should strengthen management of vessels operating on rivers and at sea; guide and organize inspections by fisheries resource protection branches on the provision of life-saving equipment and safety devices on fishing vessels. Measures should be taken to mandate that vessels going to sea must have sufficient life-saving equipment and safety devices as required. Do not allow vessels to go to sea for production when typhoons or tropical depressions are active in the area.

9. Departments, bureaus, inspectors, the Ministry's Office, and other units under the Ministry, according to their functions and responsibilities, should strengthen inspection, guidance, and supervision of fisheries departments implementing projects and works serving flood and storm prevention and search and rescue operations on schedule, quickly restoring damages caused by natural disasters together with local authorities, stabilizing people's lives, and restoring and developing production.

10. The Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue Command Board of the Ministry of Fisheries should develop programs and plans to inspect, direct, and urge fisheries departments and units under the Ministry to implement the aforementioned contents, completing all preparatory work for flood and storm prevention and search and rescue operations in 2004 by June 30, 2004.

Heads of departments, bureaus, inspectors, the Ministry's Office, directors of fisheries departments, and heads of units under the Ministry, based on assigned functions and responsibilities, should cooperate with relevant agencies to strictly implement this directive./.

The heads of the Departments, Bureaus, Inspectorate, Ministry's Office, directors of Fisheries Departments, heads of units under the Ministry, based on the functions and tasks assigned, shall coordinate with relevant agencies to strictly implement this Directive./.