40,000 fishing boats will become ... coral?

There are 92,000 tractor ships in the whole country. According to the master plan of fisheries development until 2010 approved by the Government, by 2010, the whole country will only retain 50,000 ships. So, where are more than 40,000 remaining fishermen going? Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi, Director of the Institute of Fisheries Economics and Planning (Ministry of Fisheries), commented: sinking these ships to create corals. He said:

(Photo: TTO)

- Our idea was started from the policy of reducing more than 40,000 government fishing vessels to protect aquatic resources. Because now, our marine fisheries resources are seriously imbalanced. But when I offered a sinking solution of 40,000 ships to create corals, I would like to emphasize that, if we do not strictly implement this policy, it is difficult to achieve the goal set by the Government by 2010.

* Reporter: Why do you have the idea of ​​using these minimized boats to create corals?

- Mr. Nguyen Chu Hoi: The value of coral reefs is considered by scientists as tropical rainforests. If the value of the forest in the upstream is precious, so is the coral reef under the sea.

And if the coral reef is lost, the sea will become a 'desert' - as well as losing the forest to a desert. Coral reefs are considered 'houses' to attract fish species to look for growth and development. Our sea has 2,000 species of fish. If there are no coral reefs, even if we don't exploit them, the fish will still leave. Not only bring the value of protecting aquatic resources and the marine environment, coral reefs also have a very beautiful landscape value, which is an ideal condition for developing future types of tourism.

Investing in coral reefs is an investment that has large, sustainable and long-term benefits. This way, countries around the world have done a lot. In Malaysia, just meet any towing ship operating on the sea, they sink. In Israel, people also use waste tires to go to the sea to grow corals and now it owns a sizable source of coral. In our country, along with many other solutions to create coral resources, sinking the boats that need to be reduced, in my view, is an executable solution.

* But sir, 40,000 tug boats are not small .

Solution to sink 40,000 ships to create corals (Photo: TTO)

- The policy, my opinion is not to sink all 40,000 boats but only partially sink and follow the roadmap, the annual target until 2010.

Therefore, starting from the beginning of next month, we will start to inventory all the boats of the provinces that have seafood, related to fisheries, especially the coastal provinces, to specifically grasp each The head of the household and the owner of the ship are in the current status of the ship: Which vessel is still in operation, not in operation and which works but does not have enough conditions to operate .

After sorting out, we will divide the year equally with plans to sink about 1,000 ships each year. At the same time, we will also consult each locality on whether to allocate boats reduction targets to each locality?

* So, which boats will sink to create corals?

- If the ships are onshore, damaged, or offshore but are not qualified, invasive exploitation of aquatic resources will be within sight to sink. My point is that good quality ships will be retained, poor quality vessels must be minimized. In addition, we will also classify according to the hull structure. The ships with shells made of iron, cement shells . will be "prioritized" to sink. I would also like to clarify that it is not necessary to sink the entire ship, but sink the body and the ship. As for the machines, the ship owners can liquidate or transfer to transport ships.

* According to him, this is a good solution. But when deploying, do fishermen respond when the ship is their property and also a means of doing business?

- Therefore, the state must buy the boats that have been investigated and classified to be listed as scuttled. The state cannot help without fishermen and ship owners. And do not be afraid that this is a 'buy and sell again', but understand that if the government leaves a capital, it will earn a very long-term profit, which is the ecological environment, aquatic resources. (fish, shrimp) and travel. And the money needed to buy back boats, I think, is not big. On the other hand, if the state does not actively buy, the people will also turn the inefficient boats into . junk. Taiwan has been very successful in doing so.

* So, after selling boats to the state, what will the shipowners and fishermen do to go ashore?

- When implementing Program 131 of the Government, the Ministry of Fisheries has calculated this aspect. Currently, we are urgently implementing a project to convert harmful activities to aquatic resources to other activities by prioritizing training and creating new jobs for fishermen subject to minimizing boats. . Because if you don't do this well, there will be 'reverse effects' , the consequences are even more terrible.