Directive No. 04/CT-VP on storm and flood prevention, disaster mitigation, and ensuring safety for fishermen and fishing vessels operating at sea.

DIRECTIVE
OF THE MINISTER OF AQUATIC RESOURCES

ON STORM AND FLOOD PREVENTION AND MITIGATION
REDUCING NATURAL DISASTER RISKS AND ENSURING SAFETY FOR PERSONS AND FISHING VESSELS OPERATING AT SEA
REGARDING FISHING ACTIVITIES AT SEA

Although the State has issued many documents stipulating requirements for all levels, sectors, and fishermen to have plans for storm and flood prevention and measures to minimize risks to persons and fishing vessels when encountering natural disasters; in reality, the implementation of the State's regulations has not been strictly enforced, with some localities and units acting arbitrarily, lacking supervision and inspection, and failing to implement effective and resolute measures. Therefore, in recent years, there have been regrettable losses of life and property for the State and people due to storms and floods.

To address the aforementioned shortcomings and minimize losses of life and property caused by storms and floods, and to organize the implementation of Directive No. 39/TTg dated January 18, 1997, of the Prime Minister on ensuring safety for persons and fishing vessels operating at sea, the Minister hereby instructs the Departments of Aquatic Resources, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (with aquatic resource management), subordinate units of the Ministry, and the Ministries' Departments, Inspectors, and Office to strictly implement the following matters:

1/ The Directors of the Departments of Aquatic Resources, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, and heads of subordinate units of the Ministry shall promptly organize a serious review of the implementation of the Law on Storm and Flood Prevention; the achievements and shortcomings in the work of storm and flood prevention and aftermath mitigation in 1996. Develop proposals and plans for storm and flood prevention in 1997; specify specific locations for anchoring vessels, evacuation sites, information systems, and warning signals for each region, and report to the Ministry no later than April 20, 1997.

2/ The Fisheries Resource Protection Department shall be responsible for:

2.1 Conducting a review of current regulations, proposing amendments and supplements to specific regulations regarding safety equipment and rescue facilities for persons and fishing vessels such as lifebuoys, firefighting equipment, communication devices, etc., suitable for different water areas, vessel types, and fishermen's financial capabilities, conducting inspections to ensure that all fishing vessels have minimum safety equipment when at sea; compiling and submitting to the Minister for consideration any proposed amendments and supplements. This task must be completed by the end of the first quarter of 1997.

2.2 Cooperating with the Transport Sector and local authorities to organize registration and issuance of licenses for fishing vessels according to current State regulations, ensuring that vessels have adequate safety and rescue equipment when at sea.

3/ The Fishing Industry Department shall be responsible for:

3.1 Developing an overall plan for storm and flood prevention and specifying anchorage locations for vessels within the industry, to be completed before April 30, 1997.

3.2 Collaborating with People's Committees at all levels and relevant sectors to regularly organize short-term training courses to guide fishermen on necessary knowledge about safety equipment and usage; compiling the needs for safety equipment and rescue facilities from localities and units, and taking measures to provide sufficient and timely supplies to those unable to resolve their own needs. This task must be completed by April 1997.

Collaborating with central and local information agencies to strengthen publicity and education for fishermen and vessel owners to understand the benefits and importance of fully equipping themselves with safety and rescue equipment, so they can voluntarily comply with State regulations.

3.3 Collaborating with the Transport and Defense sectors to organize maritime communication networks and safety systems (lighthouses, buoys, markers, etc.) along rivers and seas.

3.4 Proposing specific policies and measures to encourage fishermen to purchase safety and rescue equipment. The Fishing Industry Department shall be responsible for compiling and submitting to the Minister for consideration and to the Government for decision-making by the end of the first quarter of 1997.

The Departments of Aquatic Resources and Agriculture and Rural Development (with aquatic resource management) shall be responsible for coordinating with local insurance agencies to organize mandatory insurance purchases for fishermen and encourage the purchase of vessel insurance.

4/ The Planning and Investment Department, in collaboration with the Finance and Accounting Department, shall be responsible for compiling annual financial needs, reporting to the leadership of the Ministry for the Ministry to coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to allocate financial plans for the Aquatic Resources sector to effectively prevent and rescue persons and fishing vessels, this task must be completed by the third quarter of each year.

5/ The Standing Committee for Search and Rescue at Sea of the Ministry shall be responsible for:

5.1 Cooperating with the Ministry of National Defense to define the time, location, and method of organizing signal shots to warn of storms and rescue operations for persons and vessels in distress.

5.2 Cooperating with the National Committee for Air and Sea Search and Rescue and related Departments and Centers to promptly organize rescue operations for fishermen and fishing vessels when accidents occur.

6/ The Ministry's Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Prevention shall closely cooperate with the Central Steering Committee for Flood Prevention and Control and related sectors, provincial steering committees for storm and flood prevention, Departments of Aquatic Resources, and mass media to promptly inform fishermen of abnormal weather conditions, especially during the rainy season, to enable them to take proactive actions and avoid accidents while fishing at sea.

7/ The Management Council of the Fishery Humanitarian Fund shall be responsible for developing measures to expand the fund to promptly assist organizations and fishermen affected by storms and floods.

8/ The Departments of Fisheries, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (with fisheries management responsibilities), units under the Ministry shall, based on their respective functions and tasks, together with relevant agencies of the Ministry and localities, have the specific responsibility to fully implement all the contents mentioned above. At the same time, they must regularly organize inspections of fishermen and crew members' compliance with ensuring full safety equipment for rescue operations. In cases where safety conditions as prescribed are not met, it is absolutely forbidden to allow fishermen and crew members to go to sea. The Directors of the Departments and units directly under the Ministry shall be responsible for any property damage and deaths of fishermen and crew members due to the lack of safety equipment.

The Directors of the Departments of Fisheries, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, heads of units under the Ministry, Bureaus, Inspectorates, and the Ministry's Office within their respective scopes of responsibility shall promptly organize the strict implementation of this Directive.

The Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Prevention shall develop a program to implement this Directive, coordinate with the Inspectorate of the Ministry to have the responsibility to inspect, urge localities and units to strictly implement the Directive, and regularly report to the Minister for timely guidance.