Emergency deployment by the Ministry of Agriculture for recent work on safety in fishery water production
In order to curb the recent frequent and repeated occurrence of fishing vessel safety accidents and illegal fishing activities in coastal waters, the Ministry of Agriculture issued an emergency notice, requiring fishery authorities at all levels and fishery and fishing port supervision and management agencies to further raise their awareness, strengthen organizational leadership, strictly enforce accountability, ensure that all safety management measures are implemented in place, and effectively carry out fishery safety management work during the recent important international conferences and this winter, so as to minimize losses to fishermen's lives and property.
The notice requires all localities to earnestly study and comprehend the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, resolutely implement the important instructions and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping and other central leading comrades on safety production work, firmly establish the concept of “administering fisheries according to law and promoting fisheries according to law,” further enhance “bottom line” thinking and “red line” awareness, fully recognize the severe situation currently facing fishery safety production, and continuously advance the building of “Safe Fisheries.” In conjunction with the “Six Crackdowns and Six Rectifications” special action against illegal and unauthorized activities, organize safety production inspections, eliminate hidden dangers in fishing vessels, and immediately rectify any problems and hidden dangers discovered; those who refuse to rectify or fail to rectify effectively shall be strictly punished in accordance with laws and regulations. In conjunction with the “Measures for the Administration of Fishery Crew Members of the People's Republic of China,” which will take effect on January 1 next year, earnestly organize publicity and implementation work, effectively strengthen fishermen training, organize maritime emergency rescue drills, guide fishermen in the correct use of life rafts and other safety equipment, and improve crew members' safety awareness and self-rescue and mutual-rescue capabilities.
The notice also requires all localities to strengthen contact with meteorological, oceanic and other departments, closely monitor changes in weather and waves, promptly notify every fishing vessel, every fish raft and every fisherman of meteorological warning information through shore stations, radio, mobile phone text messages and other channels, and urge fishermen to promptly take corresponding safety precautions. Actively coordinate and cooperate with transportation and maritime authorities, earnestly implement the spirit of the “Memorandum of Cooperation on Water Safety Management between the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Agriculture,” and adopt targeted measures such as joint cruise management, issuance of navigation notices and warning information, strengthened supervision and inspection, and safety warning education to strictly prevent major accidents such as collisions between merchant vessels and fishing vessels. Actively coordinate and cooperate with border defense, coast guard and other departments, strengthen maritime law enforcement inspections, severely crack down on fishing vessel cross-border fishing, illegal collection of red coral and other acts, and resolutely curb the concentrated and frequent momentum of illegal activities. Actively cooperate with foreign affairs and other departments to do a good job in emergency response and follow-up handling of foreign-related incidents. Fishery administration vessels shall make preparations for voyage readiness, actively cooperate with professional search and rescue forces, and organize rescue of fishing vessels in distress and self-rescue and mutual-rescue among fishing vessels.