Directive No. 05/2005/CT-BTS on flood and storm prevention, disaster mitigation, and ensuring safety for people and fishing vessels engaged in aquatic activities.

DIRECTIVE OF THE MINISTER OF AQUATIC RESOURCES

On flood and storm prevention, disaster mitigation, and ensuring safety for people and fishing vessels engaged in aquatic activities

In 2004, tropical storms and low-pressure systems occurred less frequently than the average over many years; however, complex and unusual weather conditions occurred in many places across the country. Incidents and accidents involving fishing vessels at sea increased, causing significant losses to both people and property of the public and the State.

To effectively implement flood and storm prevention, disaster mitigation measures, promptly respond to all situations, minimize human and property losses caused by natural disasters in 2005; the Minister of Fisheries issues this Directive to the Directors of Provincial Fisheries Departments, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development responsible for fisheries management (hereinafter referred to collectively as Provincial Fisheries Departments), Heads of units under the Ministry to perform the following tasks well:

1. Organize a summary and draw lessons from the work of flood and storm prevention, aftermath recovery, and search and rescue operations in 2004; develop specific plans and strategies for flood and storm prevention, search and rescue operations in 2005 that are suitable to the actual conditions of each locality and unit, and have inspection, urging, and directing plans for implementation.

2. Strengthen the organization of Flood and Storm Prevention Command Bureaus and Search and Rescue Coordination at all levels, ensuring consistency from central to localities and units. For localities and units in areas frequently affected by typhoons and floods, the heads of these units shall directly serve as the leaders of Flood and Storm Prevention Command Bureaus and Search and Rescue Coordination.

3. Closely coordinate with relevant departments, political-social organizations, professional associations, and mass media organizations to enhance propaganda and education for fishermen to understand the benefits and importance of ensuring safety when participating in aquatic activities; raise awareness about disaster prevention, knowledge, and maritime safety skills.

4. Ensure smooth communication and warning systems during the rainy season and typhoon period, proactively handle disaster scenarios, and coordinate search and rescue operations locally and regionally, reporting promptly to the Ministry's Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue Command Bureau for unified guidance.

5. Implement effectively the principle of four localities (command at the spot; forces at the spot; materials and equipment at the spot; logistics at the spot); Provincial Fisheries Departments should promptly establish regulations for cooperation with related forces in flood and storm prevention and search and rescue operations, be proactive in preventive and response measures against natural disasters, minimizing human and property losses of the public and the State to the lowest extent possible.

6. Coastal Provincial Fisheries Departments should strengthen management to ensure safety for people and fishing vessels operating on the sea, rivers, anchorage areas for typhoon avoidance, and aquaculture, processing, and service areas to reduce losses when natural disasters occur. Strictly implement Government Decree No. 141/TTg-CN dated February 1, 2005, and Directive No. 01/2005/CT-BTS dated February 7, 2005, of the Minister of Fisheries on strengthening management and ensuring safety for people and fishing vessels engaged in aquatic activities.

7. The Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Protection Department shall take the lead in coordinating with competent state agencies to strengthen management, inspection, and supervision of fishing vessels engaged in aquatic activities. Do not allow ships to go to sea for production when there are typhoons or low-pressure systems active in the area. Organize guidance and direction for Fisheries Resource Protection Sub-departments to strictly inspect the technical safety of fishing vessels, enforce mandatory requirements for fishing vessels to have sufficient lifebuoys and safety equipment meeting quality standards.

8. Departments, Inspectors General, and Units under the Ministry according to their functions and responsibilities should strengthen guidance and direction for Provincial Fisheries Departments to implement projects and works serving flood and storm prevention and search and rescue operations on schedule, quickly restore damages caused by natural disasters together with localities, stabilize people's lives, and resume and develop production.

9. The Ministry of Fisheries' Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue Command Bureau should develop programs and plans for inspections, directives, and urging Provincial Fisheries Departments and units under the Ministry to implement the above contents, completing all preparatory work for flood and storm prevention and search and rescue operations in 2005 by May 30, 2005.

10. This Directive shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette and replace Directive No. 02/2004/CT-BTS dated March 29, 2004, of the Minister of Fisheries on flood and storm prevention, disaster mitigation, and ensuring safety for people and fishing vessels.

Heads of Departments, Inspectors General, and Units under the Ministry; the Ministry of Fisheries' Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue Command Bureau; Directors of Provincial Fisheries Departments and Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development responsible for fisheries management; based on assigned functions and tasks, cooperate with relevant agencies to strictly implement this Directive./.

The Heads of the Departments, Inspectorates, Office of the Ministry, units directly under the Ministry; the Command for Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue of the Fisheries Ministry; Directors of Fisheries Departments and Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development responsible for fisheries management shall, based on their assigned functions and tasks, coordinate with relevant agencies to strictly implement this Directive./.