Khanh Hoa launches peak emulation campaign against IUU

(Chinhphu.vn) - On August 28, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province launched a peak emulation campaign across the province to prevent and end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, aiming to remove the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" warning for Vietnamese seafood.

Representatives of departments, branches, functional forces and coastal localities of Khanh Hoa signed an anti-IUU agreement - Photo: VGP/MT

At the event, representatives of departments, branches, functional forces and coastal localities signed a covenant, committed to emulate with high determination, demonstrating the spirit of solidarity and responsibility in the work of combating IUU. The main contents include: Strengthening the dissemination of fisheries laws to each fisherman and each ship owner; strictly controlling 100% of fishing vessels when entering and leaving ports, not allowing ships to go to sea when not qualified; strengthening patrols, inspections, strictly handling violations, including criminal prosecution if there is sufficient basis; absolutely not allowing fishing vessels and local fishermen to illegally exploit in foreign waters.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Trinh Minh Hoang emphasized that this emulation campaign is of special importance, taking place in the context of the Central Government's strong directives, requiring localities to concentrate highly to achieve substantial results. This is also a preparation step for the EC's 5th inspection on combating IUU in Vietnam in the coming time.

To achieve the goal, the Provincial People's Committee calls on all levels, sectors, localities and especially fishermen in the whole province to uphold the spirit of responsibility, voluntarily comply with the law; exploit seafood legally and sustainably, protect aquatic resources; and resolutely not participate in or assist in illegal, unreported and unregulated seafood exploitation.

Khanh Hoa is currently one of the localities with the largest offshore fishing fleet in the country - Photo: VGP/MT

Khanh Hoa province has a 490 km long coastline with 25 coastal communes and wards; 5,272 fishing vessels with a length of 6 m or more, of which 99.72% are licensed to operate; 99.54% of the total 1,514 vessels with a length of 15 m or more have installed vessel monitoring equipment (VMS). 100% of vessels have been registered and their data have been updated on the National Fisheries Database System (VNFishbase).

However, in reality, there are still 5 ships that have not installed VMS, 98 ships have not been granted or have had their operating licenses renewed, nearly 500 ships have expired technical safety inspections, and 52 ships have not met food hygiene and safety standards. If these limitations are not thoroughly resolved, they will affect Vietnam's efforts to remove the "yellow card".

Minh Trang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/khanh-hoa-phat-dong-dot-thi-dua-cao-diem-chong-iuu-102250828160622957.htm