Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, chaired the 24th meeting of the Steering Committee - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi.
On the morning of December 2nd, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, chaired the 24th meeting of the Steering Committee, connecting online with 21 coastal provinces and cities.
As of November 29th, ministries, departments, and localities have completed all 101 tasks assigned by the Prime Minister.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha assessed that although the national peak month for combating IUU fishing has ended, the goal set after more than 8 years of lifting the European Commission's (EC) "IUU yellow card" has not yet been achieved, requiring more decisive action in the coming period.
Given the reality that law enforcement agencies find it difficult to control activities in the vast ocean, the Deputy Prime Minister proposed changing the method of monitoring fishing vessel activities, focusing on onshore control and the application of digital and telecommunication technologies . The Deputy Prime Minister also requested the persistent development and improvement of the national fisheries database, considering this a "must-do solution" for comprehensive monitoring of fishing vessels and traceability of harvested seafood.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, once the data system is complete, Vietnam can directly exchange information with the EC, providing full details on violating vessels, vessels docked, origin of seafood products, licensing processes, progress in handling violations, etc.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested that ministries, sectors, and localities report on the progress of building the VNFishbase. This week, working groups will visit localities to conduct on-site inspections, including: Border Guard forces, fishing ports, fisheries sub-departments, and fishing vessel management, in order to assess whether "the progress is real or just on paper."
Regarding administrative penalties in the fisheries sector, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to provide a written response to the EC, clarifying the implementation of the new legal framework after the amendment of Decrees 37/2024/ND-CP and 38/2024/ND-CP. At the same time, several working groups should be established to inspect localities regarding shortcomings in the prevention and control of IUU fishing, including: the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; the Ministry of Public Security; the Government Inspectorate; the Ministry of National Defense, etc.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that "exchanges with the EC must be based on written documents, data, and actual results."
"100% of the violations have been processed"
According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien, the agricultural sector has aggressively implemented solutions to combat IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing and achieved significant results. Local authorities have handled "100% of violations," with a total of over 4,037 cases resulting in penalties, amounting to approximately 162 billion VND. Authorities have also initiated legal proceedings in 91 cases related to IUU fishing, involving 138 defendants.
Of the 71 Vietnamese fishing vessels seized by foreign countries, authorities have processed 53 vessels, equivalent to nearly 74%. The remaining vessels are still being investigated to clarify each case, including those using fake registration plates or where the vessel owners no longer reside locally, making processing difficult.
The total number of fishing vessels currently registered and updated in the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase) in all localities is 79,243/79,243. Fishing vessels that do not meet the operating requirements have been inspected and assigned to communes/wards and relevant forces to manage their mooring locations.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang speaks - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi.
This week, the police brought to trial two cases involving three defendants charged with "Organizing illegal entry and exit for others" and "Obstructing or disrupting the operation of computer networks, telecommunication networks, and electronic devices"; 100% of fishing vessels that lost connection with their Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and crossed maritime boundaries have been dealt with.
Regarding the warnings issued for several shipments of swordfish exported to the EU, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien stated that these shipments were related to two businesses in Khanh Hoa province. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has directed a thorough review of all relevant documents to clarify suspected fraud, and is coordinating with the Ministry of Finance to cross-reference input and output data within the supply chain to facilitate appropriate action.
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien affirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is finalizing all necessary documents and providing data to the EC delegation during the inspection process. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is coordinating with relevant agencies to amend the Fisheries Law and the system of decrees and circulars to ensure consistency and uniformity when they are issued in the near future.
Once again, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that the inspection and handling of violations in fisheries management must be substantive, transparent, and supported by clear evidence. He stressed the need to "inspect what content, how, and whether it includes video recordings, photos, records, minutes, payment receipts, revoked licenses, and confiscated assets," avoiding merely formal reporting. He argued that only actual results, supported by records, minutes, and images, can ensure credibility and demonstrate Vietnam's serious implementation of measures to prevent and combat IUU fishing.
Referring to the case of fraudulent origin of raw materials for processing and exporting swordfish in Khanh Hoa, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that Khanh Hoa province take responsibility and use all measures (customs, inspection, investigation, etc.) to clarify and report in detail the form of punishment, the cause of the fraud, and specific data within this week. "If there are violations, they must be dealt with thoroughly. If there are signs of criminal offenses, they must be transferred for criminal prosecution and the information must be publicly disclosed in the press and on television."
Representatives of the Military Telecommunications and Industry Group (Viettel) give a report - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi.
Reporting to the Deputy Prime Minister on the progress of implementing tasks related to VNFishbase, a representative from the Military Telecommunications and Industry Group (Viettel) stated that fishing vessels have been fully updated with information, including data on vessel owners, crew members, and entry and exit procedures, directly queried from the National Population Database. The system also integrates administrative penalty data, helping to manage violations at sea and onshore in a synchronized manner.
The management process related to new construction, registration, inspection, modification, transfer, and technical supervision is developed and continuously updated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to ensure that the data is "accurate, complete, clean, and relevant".
A representative from Viettel emphasized the necessity of integrating the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and its supporting subsystems, which will help manage fishing vessels, monitor fisheries activities, and handle violations effectively, transparently, and synchronously. They also proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment develop a comprehensive plan for managing digital transformation in fisheries and aquaculture, aiming to tightly manage the traceability process.
A representative from Viettel affirmed that technology companies are ready to support the system's deployment, ensuring integrated, transparent data for management, improving administrative procedures, monitoring ships and crew members at sea, and even expanding to manage and trace the origin of seafood farmed at sea.
The Deputy Prime Minister stated that "such an integrated, interconnected, and multi-purpose dataset will facilitate management, improve and increase transparency in administrative procedures. Information on vessels can be automatically retrieved, even several days after setting sail, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of monitoring and management; as well as convincing international partners about Vietnam's efforts in preventing and combating IUU fishing."
Also at the meeting, representatives from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) reported on the information that the United States had refused to recognize the equivalence of 12 Vietnamese fishing gears under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), along with trade barriers and technical barriers to Vietnamese seafood and export goods.
Representatives of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) report - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi.
Currently, VASEP is working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and experts to review and finalize a report related to 12 fishing methods that are not recognized as equivalent by the United States, in order to resubmit it to the US side.
At the same time, VASEP also proposed the parallel implementation of issuing Certificates of Origin (COI) for 14 fisheries that have been identified as equivalent by the United States, ensuring the availability of harvested seafood for processing and export and meeting the legal requirements of the United States.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the completion of the legal framework and the implementation of technical measures in monitoring fisheries activities must be clear, ensure enforceability, and harmonize with the requirements of the United States and the European Commission. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment needs to strengthen direct coordination with agencies, associations, and experts when conducting dialogues and working with the EC and the United States.
The goal is to build a national database encompassing both fisheries and aquaculture.
Concluding the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the period from now until December 15th is a crucial deadline for completing tasks and resolving outstanding issues related to the prevention and control of IUU fishing.
Relevant ministries and agencies should continue to carefully examine and evaluate data on fishing vessels violating regulations, especially those seized for illegal fishing and encroaching on the territorial waters of other countries; clearly explain the discrepancies between the data provided by Vietnam and the data from the EC, clarifying objective reasons, for example, vessels operating in overlapping or disputed waters cannot be considered violations.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the period from now until December 15th is a crucial deadline to complete tasks and resolve outstanding issues related to the prevention and control of IUU fishing - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi.
Local authorities are responsible for handling administrative violations, as well as criminal prosecutions of fishing vessels seized abroad. Simultaneously, agencies must provide invoices, records of asset confiscation, revoked licenses, and photographic evidence to demonstrate that all necessary procedures have been followed. Cases that cannot be processed due to expiration of the statute of limitations or exceptional circumstances must also be clearly explained. The goal is to address 100% of violations while maintaining transparency and openness to the EC and the international community.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested a comprehensive inspection, not just on paper but also involving on-site visits and data assessment of cases that have been handled criminally and administratively. In particular, a thorough inspection is needed regarding the installation and maintenance of VMS connectivity, the implementation of administrative procedures related to penalties, issuance of certificates of origin, management of fishing ports, the number of vessels not meeting operating requirements, and ensuring the accuracy and transparency of data.
Regarding VNFishbase, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that during inspections at facilities, it is necessary to clearly determine whether the system operates as reported and described as "interconnected, integrated, multi-purpose, aiming for accurate, sufficient, clean, and live standards." If there are any shortcomings, this week, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will take the lead in reviewing, developing, and finalizing the regulations for data exploitation and management, and reviewing and improving related procedures. The regulations must clearly define who is allowed to participate, who can use which functions, and the responsibilities of each user. In particular, ship owners and captains must be responsible for fishing logs, tracking routes, and declaring catches.
This data will be used for licensing, certification, and related procedures. "This is a review, not the construction of an entirely new system; we'll review as we go," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
Delegates attending the session - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi.
Simultaneously, Viettel and VNPT are collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to review VNFishbase and build a comprehensive national database, including both fishing and aquaculture.
For localities, the Deputy Prime Minister requested an assessment of the effectiveness of VNFishbase's operation, and the testing and supplementation of guidelines for private ports to participate in vessel management and certification. In addition, localities must soon submit to the Government livelihood projects for fisheries transformation, including the application of high technology in offshore aquaculture and the development of service industries and tourism.
Resolving all remaining legal and technical conflicts.
Regarding international standards for the fisheries industry, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that ministries, sectors, and VASEP continue to review and amend the Fisheries Law to ensure harmonization with the legal requirements of the United States, the European Union, and several other countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies, and VASEP to continue reviewing and amending the Fisheries Law to ensure harmony with the legal requirements of the United States, the European Union, and several other countries - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi.
The review must be thorough and complete, and while awaiting the adoption of the Fisheries Law, relevant units need to prepare reports on legal compliance, including issues related to protected animal species, 12 fisheries sectors not recognized as equivalent by the United States, and 14 sectors recognized as equivalent. Simultaneously, they should propose the issuance of a Government Resolution on environmental protection, management of the fisheries sector, ensuring that the rights and obligations of citizens are implemented in accordance with the law and meet international requirements, and definitively resolving remaining legal and technical conflicts with regulations from the United States, the EU, and other countries.
Regarding coordination in dialogue and work with international partners such as the EC and the United States, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to assign officials with legal expertise and foreign language skills to support the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Reports and data must be prepared fully, transparently, and ready for testing for EC verification.
Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/kiem-tra-xu-ly-vi-pham-khai-thac-iuu-phai-thuc-chat-minh-bach-d787754.html
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