Thorough preparations are being made to welcome the 5th EC inspection team.

According to the plan, in early November 2024, a delegation from the European Commission (EC) will visit Vietnam to inspect the work of preventing and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This inspection is extremely important, as it is the final assessment before the EC can conclude whether to lift the "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood products.

Some basic tasks have been completed.

Over the past period, the departments and localities in the province have made efforts to seriously and fully implement tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing and improve fishing port infrastructure. To date, some key tasks have been basically completed, achieving positive results and significant importance, contributing to the goal of removing the IUU "yellow card" and developing the fisheries sector sustainably. Accordingly, the province has strictly controlled high-risk fishing vessels, preventing violations in foreign waters. The registration and issuance of fishing licenses for fishing vessels according to Circular 06/2024/TT-BNNPTNT has reached nearly 99%. The control of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, the implementation of the eCDT system, and the control of landed catches and traceability have been seriously implemented. The progress of procedures for repairing and improving fishing port infrastructure has been focused on, with some items already started.

Several key tasks and basic assignments have been completed with positive results. Photo: N. Lan.

However, some tasks have not yet met the set targets and deadlines. The registration process under Circular No. 06 for fishing vessels 12 meters or longer is slow. A significant number of registered fishing vessels have not yet received/reissued fishing permits. Many vessels violating IUU regulations entering and leaving fishing ports have not been processed, affecting the traceability and certification of origin of harvested seafood for businesses. The handling of administrative violations, especially the handling of fishing vessels that have lost VMS connectivity at sea, is very limited. While efforts have been made, progress in implementing projects to improve fishing port infrastructure, dredge channels, and address environmental pollution in fishing port areas remains slow.

Law enforcement agencies have been lacking in decisiveness in enforcing the law and handling violations.

It is evident that, besides the low level of law compliance among some fishermen, the main reason remains that some units and individuals have not seriously implemented their assigned responsibilities and duties, and functional forces have lacked decisiveness in enforcing the law and handling violations. At the meeting of the Provincial IUU Steering Committee for the first nine months of the year, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai emphasized: To prepare for the 5th visit of the EC inspection team, all sectors and localities are required to focus on overcoming limitations and shortcomings in the fight against IUU fishing and the tasks assigned by the Provincial People's Committee. Accordingly, the most important task remains preventing violations in foreign waters. The Provincial Border Guard Command, the Provincial Police, local authorities, and relevant units are required to continue strengthening management and closely monitoring high-risk vessels and crew members who have previously violated regulations and been detained by foreign countries, resolutely preventing the province's fishing vessels from violating foreign waters.

Fishery patrol officers on patrol at sea. Photo: N. Lân

The peak period focused on key tasks.

In addition, the Fisheries Sub-Department continues to coordinate with localities to focus on completing the registration and issuance of fishing licenses for fishing vessels according to Circular 06, and to issue and reissue fishing licenses for registered vessels that do not yet have licenses or whose licenses have expired in October 2024. Localities are strengthening the management of fishing vessels in their areas, especially ensuring that the buying, selling, and transferring of fishing vessels comply with regulations; and continuing to urge and complete the registration for vessels 12 meters or longer. Specifically, the Fisheries Sub-Department (Provincial Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center) is required to maintain a strict 24/7 duty roster to monitor fishing vessels operating at sea; promptly notify fishing vessels that cross boundaries or lose connection at sea according to established procedures and regulations; and thoroughly investigate the handling of fishing vessels showing signs of violations.

Monitoring fishing vessels operating at sea through the VMS system.

Furthermore, the Provincial Fisheries Port Management Board is requested to direct all fishing ports to fully and seriously implement the statistical recording of fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, collect fishing logs, and monitor the catch landed; and to manage and store records strictly and in accordance with regulations. Regarding difficulties and obstacles related to verifying the origin of seafood for businesses at Phan Thiet Fishing Port, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is assigned to take the lead in coordinating with relevant sectors to work with the Provincial Fisheries Port Management Board and the Phan Thiet Fishing Port Management Board to review management measures and strictly implement control measures against IUU fishing for fishing vessels, purchasing, transshipment, and wholesale at the port, strictly handling violations, and ensuring the source of legally harvested raw materials for processing and export. Authorities (Border Guard, Fisheries Inspectorate) are intensifying patrols, inspections, and controls at temporary docks and coastal areas, strictly penalizing fishing vessels 15 meters or longer that do not dock at designated fishing ports, those operating in offshore areas that are not allowed to dock for unloading seafood, and cases of violations of regulations regarding fishing logs and fishing zones.

Strengthen efforts to gather information, verify facts, and strictly handle violations.

Regarding law enforcement and handling violations, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested functional forces to strengthen their efforts in monitoring the situation, verifying, and strictly handling violations; and to strictly punish individuals who are irresponsible or who abet and cover up for violators. Regarding the handling of fishing vessels that have lost connectivity or crossed maritime boundaries, the working group at the district level (Inter-agency Task Force under Decision No. 1608/QD-UBND dated August 28, 2024) is requested to urgently organize inspections, verifications, and definitively resolve all cases of fishing vessels losing connectivity from October 2023 to the present. The Head of the Inter-agency Task Force – the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development – ​​is assigned to preside over and coordinate with relevant units to inspect the verification and handling by several units and localities; and to share the verification and handling results with the Provincial Police force for monitoring and inspection…

Along with 28 other coastal provinces and cities nationwide, Binh Thuan has been affirming its efforts and determination to implement the requirements of the Government and the EC in controlling and exploiting IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing. Aiming for responsible fisheries management and sustainable development, the province strives to join the rest of the country in lifting the EC's "yellow card" as soon as possible.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/chuan-bi-chu-dao-cac-dieu-kien-don-doan-thanh-tra-cua-ec-lan-5-125073.html