Prosecute cases of illegal seafood brokers

SGGPO November 14, 2023 20:23

The Ministry of Public Security has been assigned to urgently consolidate files and prosecute cases of brokerage and collusion in sending Vietnamese fishing boats and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters.

On November 14, the Government Office issued a notice of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang's conclusion at a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on a number of urgent tasks and difficulties that need to be resolved in the fields of fisheries and forestry.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang requested relevant ministries, branches and localities to carry out urgent and focused tasks and solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).

Phó Thủ tướng Trần Lưu Quang yêu cầu đưa ra truy tố các vụ việc môi giới đưa tàu cá Việt Nam đi khai thác bất hợp pháp

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang requested to prosecute cases of brokers sending Vietnamese fishing vessels for illegal exploitation.

Specifically, the Deputy Prime Minister requested leaders of ministries, branches and localities to direct the serious and drastic implementation of the Prime Minister's direction on focusing on implementing urgent tasks and solutions, focusing on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, removing the "Yellow Card" warning of the European Commission (EC) and other relevant directives; and be responsible to the Prime Minister for the results of combating IUU fishing in the locality.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will preside over and negotiate with the EC towards not including regulations on controlling imported aquatic products exploited by container ships for longfin tuna, to be completed before November 30, 2023.

At the same time, urgently amend and supplement Circular No. 23/2018/TT-BNNPTNT to guide localities to thoroughly handle the group of "3 no" fishing vessels, complete and promulgate before January 31, 2024. Urge, guide, and inspect the enforcement of laws and handling of administrative violations in the field of fisheries, especially the handling of administrative violations against illegal fishing in foreign waters and loss of connection to the voyage monitoring device (VMS), focusing on key provinces with many violating fishing vessels such as: Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Ben Tre, Binh Thuan, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Bac Lieu, Tien Giang, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, report to the Prime Minister before January 31, 2024.

Advise and organize a meeting of the National Steering Committee on IUU with relevant departments, ministries, branches and localities to continue directing the drastic and effective implementation of tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing in the first week of December 2023.

The Ministry of National Defense shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and coastal provinces and cities to carry out a peak period of patrolling and controlling and have effective solutions to prevent and put an end to the situation of fishing vessels violating illegal exploitation in foreign waters, from now until April 2024 (the time when the EC will conduct the 5th on-site inspection).

The Ministry of National Defense directed the Border Guard Command to prioritize and strengthen forces at coastal border posts and stations to strictly control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports; have solutions to propagate, mobilize, prevent and handle right from shore fishing vessels and fishermen at risk of violating illegal fishing in foreign waters, have timely plans to prevent and handle violations; especially focusing on key provinces with many violating fishing vessels.

The Ministry of Information and Communications closely coordinates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and 28 coastal provinces and cities to agree on a plan to handle cases where fishermen report loss of VMS connection, ensuring there is a basis for administrative sanctions.

The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Public Security to urgently consolidate records and prosecute cases of brokerage and collusion to bring Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters, to ensure the strictness of the law; promptly coordinate with relevant departments, ministries and branches to remove difficulties and obstacles in handling, resolutely investigate, prosecute and try violating organizations and individuals.

The Deputy Prime Minister directed the Chairmen of the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities to directly direct the implementation of urgent tasks from now until April 2024. Specifically, coastal provinces and centrally-run cities must have effective solutions to prevent and end the situation of fishing vessels violating illegal exploitation in foreign waters from now until April 2024. Review records and thoroughly handle cases of illegal exploitation in foreign waters and violations of VMS disconnection according to regulations from the beginning of 2023 to present, to be completed before December 30, 2023.

Organize inspection and supervision of seafood exporting enterprises in the area, strictly prohibit and handle cases of legalizing confirmation and certification records of exploited seafood products for exported seafood shipments.

Source