Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has urged authorities in Vietnam’scoastal localities to speed up the installation of satellite-positioningMovimar devices to monitor fishing boats.

Accordingly, the coastal provinces and citiesare asked set up the Movimar devices in boats with lengths of 24m or more.

Meanwhile, fishermen are required to turn on theequipment round-the-clock during their trips, as the Movimar devices help toconduct inspections, discover fishing boats with signs of violations and punishship captains who deliberately break the rules.

The MARD is working on a decree guiding theimplementation of the 2017 Law on Fisheries, including regulations on the fishingboat monitoring system. Thus, it has requested that coastal cities andprovinces increase patrols, as well as tighten the inspection and monitoring offishing activities.

The ministry also urged to better disseminateregulations about illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing at fishingharbours and ask vessels to keep their satellite-positioning systems active allday and night.

As one of the most modern positioning systems,Movimar comprises two main parts: machines installed on the boats and theinshore monitoring system. 

The equipment on boats automatically transfersco-ordinates and time from the boats to the monitoring centre every two hours.The data helps the centre keep track of the speed and direction of boats, thusproviding timely support in case of emergency and assisting boats’ fishingactivities.

In addition, the devices deliver forecasts onthe weather and fishing fields, helping fishermen save costs, especially fuel,resulting in more effective operation and reduced risks.-VNA