Dong Thap Tightens Management of Offshore Oyster Farming

(DTO) On October 22, Vice Chairman of the Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Phuoc Thien chaired a meeting to review inspection reports on offshore oyster farming across coastal communes and discuss resolutions for violations.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province currently has approximately 798.7 hectares utilised for offshore oyster farming, with 12,720 oyster lines deployed. Of this total, allocated sea surface area accounts for over 276 hectares, or nearly 35%, while unallocated areas span over 522 hectares, accounting for more than 65%.

Specifically, Go Cong Dong Commune has over 99 hectares of oyster farms operated by 20 households, with only three households allocated sea surface areas totaling 26.72 hectares. Tan Dien Commune has 596.5 hectares with 9,544 oyster lines, where 23 households are allocated a combined sea area of 165.8 hectares. Gia Thuan Commune has 103.08 hectares of oyster farms across 13 households, including 11 households allocated sea surface areas totaling 83.93 hectares.

Inspections revealed numerous shortcomings in oyster farming operations. Notably, newly emerging farming areas with unidentifiable owners have hampered administrative management and enforcement efforts.

The working group proposed that People's Committees of coastal communes coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to continue reviewing and classifying each case, identifying facility owners and their legal status to compile violation dossiers and apply remedial measures in accordance with regulations.

Concurrently, local authorities must step up public communication, requiring aquaculture farmers to refrain from establishing new farms or expanding existing areas without fully satisfying legal requirements.

Speaking at the session, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Phuoc Thien emphasized that in light of unauthorized and spontaneous oyster farming in coastal communes, departments and localities must urgently rectify the situation and strengthen oversight, strictly preventing any new farming areas or additional households outside established regulations.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Phuoc Thien instructed local authorities to coordinate with the Police, Border Guard, and relevant departments to compile precise statistics on each operator, location, farming area, and legal status.

For violation cases with identified facility owners, official records must be drawn up for legal processing, setting clear deadlines for executing required remedial measures.

For farming areas where the operators remain undetermined, local authorities must urgently assemble documentation and formulate handling plans to maintain state management discipline and safeguard the marine environment.

By H. THONG
Translated by X.QUANG