Ms. Truong Thi Mai, Standing Member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, has just signed a directive from the Party Central Committee Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and promoting sustainable development of the fisheries sector.
According to the Party Central Committee's assessment, in recent years, the fisheries sector has become a key economic sector, with an annual output of over 9 million tons, contributing approximately 30% to the agricultural sector's GDP.
Despite achieving many results, the Party Central Committee noted that Vietnam's fisheries sector has not yet developed sustainably, has not yet lifted the European Commission's "yellow card" warning, and has not fully complied with regulations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing…
Illustration photo: Tien Thanh.
In addition, according to the Party Central Committee, the work of inspection, supervision, coordination, detection, and handling of violations has not been strict, regular, or synchronized.
Emphasizing that combating illegal fishing is a crucial and urgent task, the Party Central Committee Secretariat stressed the determination to achieve the goal of lifting the "yellow card" warning in 2024.
The Party Central Committee Secretariat requested that the dissemination of laws be intensified; emphasis be placed on mobilization efforts, gathering information, and promptly detecting violations "early and from afar," preventing intentional violations by fishing vessels and fishermen, especially illegal fishing in foreign waters, right from the shore.
Along with perfecting policies and supplementing sanctions to strictly handle violations, the Party Central Committee Secretariat requested policies to support the modernization of the fisheries sector, improve livelihoods, provide vocational training, and create conditions for fishermen to venture out to sea, stay at sea, and improve their lives.
The Secretariat also requested strengthened management of fishing vessels, fisheries service vessels, fishing ports, and fleets; and decisively addressing the situation of fishing vessels operating without licenses, registration, or inspection certificates.
According to the requirements of the Party Central Committee, relevant agencies must monitor 100% of seafood production at sea and in ports; and ensure that no illegal seafood products are exported abroad.
The Party Central Committee Secretariat directed the strengthening of inspections and audits, and the timely investigation, prosecution, and strict trial of cases involving brokering and facilitating the illegal exploitation of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen in foreign waters, as well as the falsification of documents for export shipments…
In addition, according to the Party Central Committee, it is necessary to focus on investing state resources, encouraging socialization, and public-private partnerships to develop technical infrastructure and facilities for the fisheries sector.
Also in this Directive, the Party Central Committee reiterated the need to improve the effectiveness of international cooperation, especially with European countries and the EU, strengthen diplomatic measures, and garner support from relevant parties to lift the "yellow card" warning as soon as possible; and to prevent fishing vessels and fishermen from engaging in illegal fishing in foreign waters, which could affect relations with other countries.
At the same time, according to the Party Central Committee, it is necessary to promptly engage in diplomatic efforts to address the issue of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen who, without violating illegal fishing regulations, are apprehended and prosecuted by foreign authorities in overlapping, disputed, or undemarcated maritime areas with other countries.
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