Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh : Local authorities, especially at the grassroots level (commune/ward/town) must uphold their sense of responsibility and determination to act in combating IUU fishing - Photo: VGP
The Government Office issued Notice 412/TB-VPCP on the conclusion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Conference on promoting solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, preparing to welcome and work with the Inspection Delegation of the European Commission.
Prosecution of cases of brokerage and collusion to bring Vietnamese fishing boats and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood
Regarding the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing and promptly removing the "Yellow Card", the Ministry of National Defense shall preside over and coordinate with coastal provinces and centrally run cities and relevant ministries and branches to focus on implementing strong measures, resolutely preventing Vietnamese fishing vessels from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters; both propagating and educating, and at the same time strengthening discipline and order in handling violations.
The Ministry of Public Security urgently consolidates records and prosecutes 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 coordinates with relevant departments, ministries and branches to remove difficulties and obstacles in handling, resolutely investigates, prosecutes and tries violating organizations and individuals.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to organize working groups to inspect, urge and guide localities in implementing the task of combating IUU fishing; welcome and work with the EC Inspection Group, especially proactively coordinating and supporting localities in welcoming and working with the EC Inspection Group to ensure the best results.
During the EC Inspection Delegation's work in Vietnam, take every opportunity to explain and demonstrate to the EC Inspection Delegation the understanding and grasp of the situation and conditions of the Vietnamese fisheries industry, the determination of the Government, and the efforts of relevant Vietnamese agencies in combating IUU fishing, so that on that basis the Delegation can support the removal of the "Yellow Card" warning in this inspection.
Preside and coordinate with relevant agencies to report to the Prime Minister the results after the EC Inspection Delegation finishes working in Vietnam.
Continue to research and perfect institutions and policies to ensure sustainable development of fisheries exploitation activities, stabilize people's livelihoods, in accordance with the actual situation of sustainable fisheries development in the direction of reducing fisheries exploitation and increasing aquaculture, especially marine aquaculture.
Closely monitor and supervise fishing vessels operating at sea
The People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run cities shall closely coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries, branches and sectors to focus on implementing strong measures, resolutely preventing local fishing vessels from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters; attaching responsibility to the heads of Party committees, authorities at all levels and functional forces with the implementation results.
Closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct a general inspection and review of the entire number of fishing vessels, grasp the current status of fishing vessels (number of registered, inspected, licensed; number of unregistered, uninspected, licensed or expired fishing vessels; fishing vessels operating outside the province; fishing vessels not yet installed with VMS equipment...) to screen and classify to ensure monitoring and supervision of all activities of the fleet, and handle violations according to law; especially "3 no" fishing vessels.
Closely monitor and supervise fishing vessels operating at sea, ensuring compliance with regulations on turning on VMS devices when participating in seafood exploitation. Direct law enforcement forces, relevant agencies and units to launch peak periods of patrolling, inspecting, controlling and sanctioning administrative violations in the field of fisheries; focusing on strictly and thoroughly handling cases of illegal seafood exploitation in foreign waters, violations of VMS regulations...; ensuring an increase in the number of cases verified and handled.
Strictly implement regulations on fishing vessel management, complete 100% of registration, inspection, and issuance of fishing licenses; fully update fishing vessel data into the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), ensuring data consistency in local reports and on VNFishbase.
Control fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, entering/exiting the port; closely monitor the output of exploited aquatic products loaded and unloaded through the port; ensure 100% of fishing vessels dock at designated ports, monitor 100% of exploited aquatic products.
Strictly comply with regulations on confirmation, certification, and traceability; strictly handle organizations and individuals who intentionally legalize documents of export shipments to the European market.
Allocate sufficient resources (human resources, funding, equipment) for relevant local authorities to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing; arrange competent, qualified, responsible staff and have appropriate mechanisms, policies, incentives, and rewards.
Regularly inspect, check and seriously review and handle responsibilities of organizations and individuals who do not fulfill assigned duties and tasks.
Urgently establish local fisheries inspectors according to the provisions of the Fisheries Law and related guiding documents.
Do not purchase, process, or export seafood products of IUU origin.
Vietnam Fisheries Association, Vietnam Tuna Association, Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and seafood processing and exporting enterprises continue to join hands and accompany the Government in implementing regulations on IUU, not purchasing, processing, and exporting seafood products of IUU origin.
Closely coordinate with competent authorities in investigating, verifying, and strictly and thoroughly handling organizations, individuals, and seafood businesses that conduct illegal business, legalize documents, assist, and condone IUU behavior.
Propagating, mobilizing, and educating relevant organizations, individuals, and businesses in the fisheries sector about the Government's and Prime Minister's guiding views on combating IUU fishing.
Handling the responsibility of the head for prolonging the situation of IUU fishing violations
Ministries, sectors, localities, relevant agencies, units, organizations and individuals strictly implement the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws on sustainable development of the marine economy, protection of the ocean environment and marine ecosystems, creation of sustainable livelihoods for coastal fishing communities, associated with protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. Coastal fishing communities must ensure compliance with policies, laws and international obligations in protecting the domestic and international marine environment, and combating IUU fishing to protect their own interests.
Continue to seriously implement the instructions of the Prime Minister; of the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU related to combating IUU fishing to welcome and work with the EC Inspection Delegation to achieve the best results; ensure transparency, honesty, timely acceptance and explanation in the spirit of cooperation and friendship, request the EC to share the conditions and efforts to combat IUU fishing of Vietnam to soon remove the "Yellow Card" warning.
Ensure both propaganda and mobilization, discipline, and decisive handling of cases of intentional violations of IUU fishing; especially violations of foreign waters, violations of VMS regulations... ensuring both humanity and deterrence, ensuring the strictness of Vietnamese law and international law. Resolutely handle organizations and individuals who, for short-term benefits, forget long-term benefits, for personal interests, forget collective interests, affecting efforts to remove the "Yellow Card" warning.
Local authorities, especially at the grassroots level (commune/ward/town) must uphold their sense of responsibility and determination to act in combating IUU fishing; review and handle the responsibilities of heads of authorities at all levels, departments, branches, sectors and local functional forces who lack a sense of responsibility, allowing IUU fishing violations to persist in the locality, and delay in advising and resolving sustainable livelihoods for the fishing community.
Source: baochinhphu
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