Directive No. 02/2007/CT-BTS on Strengthening Management of Domestic Fishing

DIRECTIVE

On Strengthening Management of Domestic Fishing

Domestic fishing plays a very important role in the lives of Vietnamese people; it contributes to ensuring a portion of nutrition from aquatic products for the population; it serves as a livelihood for many poor fishermen living near rivers, lakes, and reservoirs; particularly, freshwater aquaculture in recent years has generated significant income for the people and contributed to increasing export value. However, domestic aquatic resource exploitation has not been given adequate attention in recent times, and there are many issues that need better management such as: environmental pollution in breeding areas on rivers, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs; the use of explosives and electric shock devices for fishing; insufficient management information on domestic fishing; many reservoir areas have not been rationally developed for aquaculture and resource exploitation. The Fisheries Law has assigned responsibility to provincial People's Committees to manage fishing and aquaculture in rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and other natural water bodies within their jurisdiction, but to date, many localities still lack management regulations.

To address these issues, the Minister of Aquatic Resources requests the Directors of Provincial Fisheries Departments, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development responsible for fisheries management, heads of Bureaus, Departments, and organizations under the Ministry to strictly implement the following tasks:

1. Responsibilities of Organizations and Units Under the Ministry of Aquatic Resources

a) The Bureau of Exploitation and Protection of Aquatic Resources shall be responsible for:

- Taking the lead in coordinating with the Legal Affairs Department to develop a regulation on the management of domestic fishing.

- Coordinating with aquatic research institutes and localities to establish a database on domestic fishing.

- Developing a national program for sustainable development of domestic fishing.

- Effectively implementing activities related to domestic fishing under the Project Component to Enhance Management of Aquatic Resource Exploitation (SCAFI).

b) The Department of Aquaculture shall be responsible for:

Guiding localities in implementing sustainable aquaculture without using chemicals and feed prohibited by the Ministry of Aquatic Resources; protecting the environment of aquaculture water areas; developing high-value and nutritious aquaculture species.

c) The Department of Science and Technology shall be responsible for:

Implementing research tasks to serve the development and management of domestic fishing; researching endangered species, minimum sizes for exploitation of certain species not yet specified, and inland water conservation zones.

d) The Inspectorate of the Ministry shall be responsible for:

Cooperating and guiding local fishery inspectors to effectively carry out patrol, inspection, and administrative violation handling in the fields of fishing, protection, and aquatic environment.

đ) The National Fisheries Extension Center shall be responsible for:

Strengthening publicity and dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge, quickly transferring new aquaculture techniques and technologies, and environmental treatment methods to enable people to apply them in their daily lives to sustainably exploit and develop inland aquatic resources.

e) Research Institutes under the Ministry shall be responsible for:

Implementing research projects and programs to transfer new and rare breeds that need conservation; using biological preparations in environmental treatment and aquaculture; various types of environmentally friendly drugs and techniques for high-value and rare aquatic species.

2. Provincial Fisheries Departments and Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development responsible for fisheries management shall be responsible for:

a) Strictly implementing Directive No. 01/1998/CT-TTg dated January 2, 1998 of the Prime Minister on prohibiting the use of explosives, electric shock devices, and toxic substances for fishing.

b) Advising provincial People's Committees to issue management regulations for fishing areas in rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and other natural water bodies within their jurisdiction; planning fishing and aquaculture areas; directing relevant units to expedite procedures for granting land and water surface rights to ensure long-term investment and development of inland aquaculture.

c) Strengthening patrols and inspections on rivers, lakes, ponds, and other inland water bodies, and handling administrative violations in the field of fisheries, including illegal fishing, destruction of aquatic resources and the environment. Severely punishing the use of explosives, electric shock devices, and chemicals for fishing, and catching immature fish.

d) Strengthening the management of cage and raft farming in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs to prevent environmental pollution, requiring reasonable zoning and management measures to avoid obstructing inland waterway traffic and environmental pollution.

đ) Implementing the issuance of fishing licenses according to authority for all fishing vessels required to have fishing licenses; and managing fishing vessels operating in rivers, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs well.

e) Increasing propaganda and training for fishermen to understand legal and technical knowledge about fishing, aquaculture, and protection of inland aquatic resources.

g) Managing domestic fishing with community participation; linking the responsibility of citizens in exploiting and protecting aquatic resources and the environment. Guiding people to establish cooperatives, groups, associations, and coordinating with local authorities to manage fishing and aquaculture in rivers, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.

3. Implementation:

a) This Directive shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

b) The Director of the Office, the Director of the Bureau of Exploitation and Protection of Aquatic Resources, heads of organizations and units under the Ministry of Aquatic Resources, and Directors of Provincial Fisheries Departments and Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development responsible for fisheries management shall be responsible for implementing this Directive.