From early morning, the area around Dinh An fishing port was bustling. A large number of fishermen gathered to hear information related to the law on national sea and islands, with a focus on knowledge about illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing prevention, provided by representatives from Coast Guard Region 3.

leftcenterrightdel
Leaders of Coast Guard Region 3 and locality hand over gifts to policy families and poor household in Dinh An estuary.

Applying approachable and flexible communication methods, such as holding talks, distributing leaflets, and answering questions, officers and soldiers from Coast Guard Region 3 and coordinating forces helped local fishermen better understand fishing boundaries, regulations on installing vessel monitoring systems, and necessary legal procedures for offshore fishing. During the program, vessel owners and captains signed pledges to refrain from IUU fishing and other illegal activities at sea.

In addition to legal outreach, Coast Guard Region 3 partnered with Hung Vuong Hospital to provide free medical check-ups, health consultations, and medicines for over 300 individuals, including many policy families and fishermen in difficult circumstances. They also presented 500 national flags and 350 gift sets, comprising life jackets, first-aid kits, flashlights, and essential supplies to local fishermen. The activity demonstrated troops’ sentiment to fishermen and solidarity between the military and the people.

According to Senior Colonel Le Van Tu, Political Commissar of Coast Guard Region 3, Dinh An is one of the nine river mouths flowing into the sea from the Mekong River. He added that The “Coast guards stand by fishermen” program held at Dinh An estuary not only aimed at legal education but also served as a bridge connecting the coast guard with the people.

Col. Tu said that the coast guard force wanted to stand by fishermen both onshore and during their time at sea, thus strengthening the bond between the coast guard and the fishing community. The activities also foster a greater sense of legal compliance, helping protect the marine environment, and safeguard national sovereignty at sea. He added that through this program, the coast guard continues to affirm its role as a reliable support and close companion to fishermen on their journey to uphold their livelihoods at sea.

Translated by Tran Hoai