More determined and responsible in implementing solutions against IUU fishing

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 | 17:24:00

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On the morning of August 29, Comrade Tran Luu Quang, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the National Steering Committee on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) chaired an online conference with 28 coastal provinces and cities on promoting solutions to combat IUU fishing, preparing to welcome and work with the 4th Inspection Delegation of the European Commission (EC). Comrade Lai Van Hoan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of a number of departments, branches, localities and 21 communes with fishing vessels attended the conference at the Thai Binh bridge.

Comrade Lai Van Hoan, Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and delegates attended the conference at Thai Binh bridge.

Through the results of direct work with the Inspection Team of the European Directorate General for Marine and Fisheries on the EC's recommendations at the third inspection, the EC continued to acknowledge and highly appreciate Vietnam's efforts in combating IUU fishing. Some contents have implemented handling solutions and have timely updated and exchanged results.

However, after the third inspection by the EC, the implementation of the EC's recommendations as well as the implementation of tasks and solutions under the direction of the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing, to date, there are still many shortcomings and limitations that are slow to be overcome at the local level, such as: not completing the registration of fishing vessels and granting fishing licenses; updating fishing vessel data into the national fisheries database (VNFishbase) is incomplete. Specifically, the total number of fishing vessels with a length of 6m or more that have been registered and updated on the VNFisbase database is 71,658/86,820, reaching 82.5%. The total number of fishing vessels with valid licenses is only about 70%. The situation of fishing vessels participating in seafood exploitation activities that do not meet the required conditions continues to occur. Accordingly, the installation of voyage monitoring equipment has reached nearly 100%, but the situation of fishing vessels disconnecting is common in large numbers. The situation of fishing vessels not docking at designated ports as prescribed still occurs regularly; the rate of monitoring aquatic product output through ports is still low. There are still many problems in confirming, certifying and tracing the origin of domestically exploited aquatic products. The situation of fishing vessels illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters continues to occur and is complicated. Specifically, from the beginning of 2023 until now, 39 vessels/252 fishermen have continued to be arrested and handled by foreign countries.

After listening to the opinions of ministries, branches and localities, concluding the conference, the Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing, emphasized: The EC affirmed that it would not lift the "yellow card" warning if it did not stop the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters. Therefore, from now until October 2023, ministries, branches and coastal provinces and cities must synchronously deploy more drastic and responsible solutions and measures to stop Vietnamese fishing vessels from violating foreign waters.

He requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop a master plan to prepare for receiving and working with the 4th EC inspection team in October; organize working groups to inspect, guide and urge localities to overcome shortcomings and limitations, and ensure strict implementation of regulations on combating IUU fishing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through diplomatic channels, conveys a message demonstrating Vietnam's political determination in the effort to combat IUU fishing; coordinates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to carefully prepare relevant exchange content on combating IUU fishing in high-level dialogues, ensuring to gain active support from relevant parties for Vietnam's political determination in removing the "yellow card" warning. The Ministry of National Defense shall preside over and coordinate with coastal localities, ministries and branches to strengthen inspection and supervision, preventing fishing vessels from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters from now until October 2023. The Ministry of Information and Communications increases the time and quality of information and propaganda at home and abroad about Vietnam's efforts and results in combating IUU fishing. Localities continue to manage fishing ports and fishing vessels and coordinate with central and local agencies in combating IUU fishing.

Ngan Huyen

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