Supporting Vietnam to become a world model in sustainable development of the fisheries industry

On September 18, a delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) led by Minister Le Minh Hoan visited and worked with agencies of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. This was a working session before the IUU inspection delegation entered Vietnam to conduct the fourth inspection, scheduled for October 2023.

During the working sessions with the European Commission's High Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG-MARE), Minister Le Minh Hoan discussed with his counterpart Vietnam's viewpoint on combating IUU fishing. That is, identifying combating IUU fishing as a key task of the agriculture and rural development sector, not only for exporting seafood to the EU but also helping to develop sustainable aquaculture and seafood exploitation, demonstrating Vietnam's responsibility, maintaining Vietnam's reputation in the international arena. At the same time, identifying the issue of removing the yellow card as an opportunity for the fishing industry to transform from traditional, small-scale, multi-craft, multi-species fishing to managing a responsible, sustainable fishing industry.

Minister Le Minh Hoan also affirmed Vietnam's political determination to make the greatest effort to best resolve the recommendations of DG-MARE on repelling and ending IUU fishing, towards a sustainable fisheries development. Under the leadership of the Party, the direction of the National Assembly and the Government, with the goal of building a sustainable, responsible, internationally integrated fisheries sector and removing the EC's yellow card, the entire political system has actively participated in building and implementing a synchronous plan with specific goals and solutions throughout the system from the central to local levels, organizations, fishing communities, associations and seafood enterprises.

Up to now, Vietnam has achieved many outstanding results. Among them, achieving high consensus and drastic actions at all levels, sectors, fishing communities, businesses and achieving consensus of the whole society in implementing legal provisions, regulations and recommendations of the EC to prevent and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.

In addition, a comprehensive and complete legal framework has been established for fisheries management and combating IUU fishing. In particular, the National Assembly and the Government have recently continued to tighten sanctions against IUU violations, from the central to local levels.

In addition, the management of fishing vessels has changed significantly. Specifically, the National Database on fishing vessels (registration, inspection, and issuance of fishing licenses) has been built and operated, connecting from the central to local levels, connecting with law enforcement forces (Fisheries Surveillance, Border Guard, Coast Guard) and port management agencies to control fishing vessel activities. Over 98% of fishing vessels operating in offshore areas (15m or longer in length) have been installed with voyage monitoring equipment.

Notably, the traceability of seafood has been implemented and controlled along the chain from controlling output through ports to issuing export certificates and controlling raw materials at processing plants.

Imported raw materials into Vietnam are controlled according to the provisions of the Agreement on Port State Measures and in the coming time, post-inspection of the legality of seafood products from imported containers will be carried out,...

At the meeting, Minister Le Minh Hoan also said that in order to implement synchronous solutions for sustainable fisheries development, Vietnam has a strategy to reduce fishing capacity, reduce the fleet and switch to aquaculture development to develop a sustainable fisheries industry.

Based on the results achieved, Minister Le Minh Hoan proposed that the European Commission support Vietnam in investigating aquatic resources in Vietnam's sea areas; implement programs to convert some seafood exploitation occupations that affect resources and the ecological environment; and transform the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities. At the same time, support Vietnam in participating in green economic development programs and managing plastic waste at sea.

Appreciating the visit of Minister Le Minh Hoan, agencies of the European Commission The Minister's visit clearly affirms Vietnam's determination and is an opportunity for direct exchanges so that the two sides can better understand the difficulties in the process of implementing the fight against IUU fishing.

The European Commission will accompany Vietnam in developing sustainable fisheries. In particular, the EU wishes to support Vietnam to become a world model in developing the sustainable fisheries sector and combating IUU fishing. The EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries announced that he will visit Vietnam in early 2024, signaling a new spring in Vietnam-EU cooperation for sustainable development./.

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