Conference promotes solutions to combat IUU fishing.

On October 7th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an online conference to promote solutions to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing with 28 coastal provinces and cities; and to prepare for the 4th visit of the European Commission (EC) inspection team.

Attending the conference was Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Head of the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing. At the provincial level, attendees included Ms. Le Huyen, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and leaders from relevant departments, agencies, localities, and units.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development , in order to combat IUU fishing and lift the EC's "yellow card," the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee on combating IUU fishing have specifically assigned content, tasks, completion timelines, and expected results to each relevant ministry, sector, and locality for implementation. Following three inspections by the EC, the implementation of measures to combat IUU fishing has shown improvement; however, some tasks remain behind schedule as directed by the Prime Minister.

Comrade Le Huyen, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, attended the conference at the provincial branch.

After assessing the situation, analyzing the causes, identifying lessons learned, and setting goals and tasks for the future, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that localities and relevant ministries and agencies carefully and accurately assess the situation, continue to make strenuous efforts to decisively implement the comprehensive solutions that have been and are being carried out; and at the same time, prepare to create favorable conditions and provide good service to the EC inspection team in a spirit of humility, openness, listening, and reporting objectively, truthfully, and constructively.

The Prime Minister stated that regardless of whether the EC lifts the IUU "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood or not, we must still act out of responsibility to the people, the country, the environment, and our international obligations. We must create livelihoods for the people, diversify jobs, protect the marine environment, enhance aquaculture and seafood processing, reduce fishing, raise public awareness of law enforcement and environmental protection, strengthen inspection and supervision by functional forces, and comply with laws as stipulated by our country and internationally.

Xuan Nguyen

Source: http://baoninhthuan.com.vn/news/140660p24c32/hoi-nghi-thuc-day-cac-giai-phap-chong-khai-thac-iuu.htm