As a coastal state in the East Sea and a member of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Vietnam has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its waters established in accordance with the UNCLOS, at the same time it also enjoys other legal rights at sea in accordance with the UNCLOS.

Supporting fishermen in fishing safely and in accordance with the law

The Vietnam Coast Guard has closely cooperated with relevant agencies to protect fishing activities and assets of fishermen in the fishing process in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese law and international law.

Members of the Fisheries Protection Division No. 2 distribute flyers to propagate the law to fishermen.

In general, in the process of working and production at sea, Vietnamese fishermen always raise their sense of sovereignty protection and well observe the provisions of law. However, there is still a part of fishermen who, for immediate profit, intentionally organize and participate in illegal fishing activities, such as fishing in the wrong water areas, encroaching foreign waters. Foreign functional forces have arrested and confiscated Vietnamese fishermen's means and properties or sanctioned them by many measures such as administrative penalties and criminal penalties.

In order to repel this activity, over the past time, the Vietnam Coast Guard has diligently brought many leaflets with contents related to Vietnam’s marine law, fishing skills, marine environment ... to disseminate them to fishermen to help them from violating law.

At Bach Long Vi port, due to the fierce sea conditions, the number of fishermen's boats anchored here is very large, among which there are many offshore fishing boats of fishermen in central provinces, such as: Quang Binh, Quang Ngai, Binh Thuan, etc. The working groups of the Vietnam Coast Guard take advantage of the weather to bring leaflets with contents related to marine law, fishing skills, marine environment ... to deliver to fishing vessels to guide them to comply with the law, to fish safely within national waters.

To prevent fishermen from violating the law and to fish safely, the working groups of Vietnam Coast Guard has applied flexible propaganda methods. The propaganda activities are implemented repeatedly. Directly visiting fishing boats to talk and guide fishermen is only one of the methods applied by the Coast Guard to have the best results of law propaganda and dissemination.

Co To is considered to have the most abundant biodiversity in Vietnam, in recent years, the aquatic resources in the region with many rare aquatic species of the largest reserve in the Tonkin Gulf has showed sign of rapid deterioration, especially in coastal areas. The cause is determined to be human overexploitation combined with the use of mass destruction methods.

Dealing with the above situation, the management and propaganda for fishermen to raise their awareness of law observance and protection of aquatic resources has been regularly organized by the High Command of Coast Guard Region 1 on the vast fishing grounds of more than 300 km2, with a sea border delimitation line of more than 190 km extending from Tran Island to Bach Long Vi Island (Hai Phong city).

Mr. Dinh Nhu Long, a fisherman who has been working in the sea for many years, often goes fishing in the traditional fishing grounds of the Gulf of Tonkin. Since being propagated by the Vietnam Coast Guard, Long, like many fishermen in the area, has no longer used destructive fishing equipment, which threaten to deplete aquatic resources such as rake and gill nets, octagonal cage, small mesh nets. He also knows better what areas are available for fishing, which areas are forbidden from fishing activities.

"Since having the companion of the Vietnam Coast Guard, our fishermen have become more knowledgeable about the law", said Mr. Dinh Nhu Long.

According to Senior Lieutenant Colonel Le Huy, Deputy Political Commissar of the High Command of Coast Guard Region 1, in the water area of Co To island district, Quang Ninh province where is home to many fishing boats, seafood purchasing ships, cargo ships, grasping current information, understanding of the law and the observance of the law by people and fishermen is still very limited. Therefore, the propaganda of information about Vietnam’s sea and islands and the popularization of law education to people is very necessary.

The fishing vessel QNg-90499TS was rescued by Coast Guard Region 2 in Hoang Sa Archipelago in July (Photo: T.C)

Accompanying fishermen to reach out to the sea

Recently, sailor Nguyen Van Phuc, 33 years old, suffered a serious injury. Fishermen broadcast an emergency signal. Immediately after that, fishing boat KN 267 of the fishery surveillance force promptly approached and brought medical staff to rescue and cure the victim.

Another time, ship KN 216 of the Fisheries Division No. 2 also promptly rescued victim Huynh Van Nam, a crew member of the fishing boat BV 92129 TS, who was injured after a cable hit into his chest. The medical staff of the fishery surveillance boat gave first aid for the victim before handing him to the ship owner.

To help fishermen feel secure to reach out to the sea, over the past time, the Vietnam Coast Guard has implemented practical activities and programs with high efficiency, specifically:

On the basis of the function of patrol, inspection and control at sea, the Vietnam Coast Guard has regularly propagated the law in water areas, especially waters with a large number of fishermen and bordering waters, preventing fishermen's violation of foreign waters, to be captured and handled by foreign agencies.

At the same time, the Vietnam Coast Guard is ready to search and rescue, save and assist fishermen to overcome circumstances occurring at sea. Since 2017, the Vietnam Coast Guard has organized 70 ships and boats participating in the search and rescue, save 415 crew members, 17 ships and boats, especially supporting fishermen when being chased by foreign ships.

The Vietnam Coast Guard has also closely coordinated with ministries, branches, agencies, organizations and individuals in assisting and helping fishermen to reach the sea. Since 2017, more than 60 socio-political organizations, businesses and donors have been mobilized to organize social security activities, effectively contributing to the movement to build the new countryside in 13 island communes and districts; visiting and giving gifts to nearly 1,600 disadvantaged families and poor fishermen...

In particular, the Vietnam Coast Guard has also coordinated with the Vietnam Young Physician Association, hospitals inside and outside the Army to organize medical examination, health consultation, to deliver free medicine for thousands of fishermen; to present more than 500 handbooks guiding first-aid skills and 340 military medicine boxes.

Thuc Anh