The conference discussed on assessment of damages caused by the mass fish deaths with the participation of officials from the four affected provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien – Hue.
At the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam suggested the localities finish the determined damage affected by the environmental pollution caused by the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company.
The Ministry will submit to the Government for consideration and approval of the plan allocation of funds to compensate farmers for damage compensation from Formosa in September.
The localities must report the results of damages caused by environmental incident to the ministry before September 10, according to Deputy Minister Vu Van Tam.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed four options for resuming fishing activities along the central coast following the serious environmental incident caused by the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company.
The options were submitted for discussions at the conference.
According to deputy head of the Directorate of Fisheries Nguyen Ngoc Oai, under the first option, fishing will be banned within 10 nautical miles from the shoreline stretching from Vung Ang of Ha Tinh to Son Cha isle of Thua Thien – Hue.
The second option will allow fishing in all but three specific areas which have been warned as unsafe by the Environment Ministry, including the waters within 1.5km from the shore in Son Duong (Ha Tinh), Nhat Le (Quang Binh) and Son Cha (Thua Thien – Hue).
Under the third option, only seabed trawling within 20 nautical miles from the shore of the four affected localities will be banned while other fishing activities may resume.
The last option involves no fishing ban at all.
The ministry also noted that no matter which option is chosen, inspections on the safety of seafood will be intensified at all fishing ports.
In additon, the ministry said aquaculture can be resumed at sea and in coastal areas in all four provinces.
For the salt industry, the ministry advised local salt workers to resume normal production and collect samples for safety check-ups periodically.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the proposals on fishing, aquaculture and salt production in the four provinces were based on the assessment on the scale and level of sea pollution released by the Ministry and Natural Resources and Environment on August 22.
The environmental incident occurred in April, beginning with a large number of dead fish along the coast discovered in Ky Anh township, Ha Tinh province on April 6, then spread to Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.
It is estimated that some 15 tonnes of natural fish and 2 tonnes of farmed fish died in Ha Tinh province. Meanwhile in Thua Thien-Hue, some 30 tonnes of natural fish died and were washed up on beaches. The pollution damaged about 400 hectares of coral and affected over 260,000 people who earn their living by working in sea-related activities.
On August 22, the environment ministry announced that the marine environment in the coastal areas of four central provinces is basically safe.
At the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam suggested the localities finish the determined damage affected by the environmental pollution caused by the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam speaks at the conference.
|
The localities must report the results of damages caused by environmental incident to the ministry before September 10, according to Deputy Minister Vu Van Tam.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed four options for resuming fishing activities along the central coast following the serious environmental incident caused by the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company.
The options were submitted for discussions at the conference.
According to deputy head of the Directorate of Fisheries Nguyen Ngoc Oai, under the first option, fishing will be banned within 10 nautical miles from the shoreline stretching from Vung Ang of Ha Tinh to Son Cha isle of Thua Thien – Hue.
The second option will allow fishing in all but three specific areas which have been warned as unsafe by the Environment Ministry, including the waters within 1.5km from the shore in Son Duong (Ha Tinh), Nhat Le (Quang Binh) and Son Cha (Thua Thien – Hue).
Under the third option, only seabed trawling within 20 nautical miles from the shore of the four affected localities will be banned while other fishing activities may resume.
The last option involves no fishing ban at all.
The ministry also noted that no matter which option is chosen, inspections on the safety of seafood will be intensified at all fishing ports.
In additon, the ministry said aquaculture can be resumed at sea and in coastal areas in all four provinces.
For the salt industry, the ministry advised local salt workers to resume normal production and collect samples for safety check-ups periodically.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the proposals on fishing, aquaculture and salt production in the four provinces were based on the assessment on the scale and level of sea pollution released by the Ministry and Natural Resources and Environment on August 22.
Illustrative image
|
It is estimated that some 15 tonnes of natural fish and 2 tonnes of farmed fish died in Ha Tinh province. Meanwhile in Thua Thien-Hue, some 30 tonnes of natural fish died and were washed up on beaches. The pollution damaged about 400 hectares of coral and affected over 260,000 people who earn their living by working in sea-related activities.
On August 22, the environment ministry announced that the marine environment in the coastal areas of four central provinces is basically safe.
