What to do to remove the EC's "yellow card" warning?

At the recent 11th online Government conference on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that with the current results of combating IUU fishing, if the existing problems and limitations are not promptly overcome and breakthrough changes are not made, it will be very difficult to remove the "Yellow Card" warning at the 5th inspection by the EC, and there is even a high risk of the warning being raised to a "Red Card".

Resolute solutions

At the conference, local leaders analyzed many shortcomings and limitations in implementing tasks to combat IUU fishing. In particular, they emphasized that the situation of fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters continues to be more complicated and increasing than before. The implementation of regulations on registration and licensing of fishing has not yet been completed. Up to now, the registration of fishing vessels updated on the national fisheries database has only reached about 91.6%; the issuance of valid fishing licenses has only reached about 75.1%. The whole country still has 7,035 "3 no" vessels. Law enforcement and handling of IUU fishing violations are not strict and are still low...

Binh Thuan has made many efforts in combating IUU fishing.

In Binh Thuan, in recent times, the province has thoroughly grasped and resolutely implemented tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing according to Directive 32 of the Secretariat, Resolution 52 of the Government, the Prime Minister's dispatches and the conclusions of the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU. In particular, the province has seriously acknowledged the shortcomings and limitations through the inspection of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's working group led by Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien in the locality on May 28-29, 2024. After that, the Provincial People's Committee has developed a plan to overcome with 8 key task groups, 32 work items, with specific progress milestones assigning responsibilities to each department, branch, unit, district, commune and neighborhood authorities to organize implementation. In particular, La Gi Fishing Port is put in the focus to direct the rectification of IUU fishing control work, infrastructure repair, and environmental pollution remediation. In particular, the province has directed the functional forces (Border Guard, Police, Fisheries Surveillance), local authorities and organizations to assign officers, soldiers, and party members to closely monitor and supervise 173 high-risk fishing vessels, and notify the maritime law enforcement forces (Coast Guard, Navy, Fisheries Surveillance) to inspect and supervise the vessels' operations at sea. Thanks to that, from February 2023 to now, Binh Thuan has not detected any foreign fishing vessels violating the law.

Put La Gi Fishing Port in the focus to direct and rectify the work of controlling and preventing IUU fishing.

In addition, up to now, the whole province has 8,184 fishing vessels registered and updated on the national database VNFishbase. In particular, the province has focused on directing the registration and granting of fishing licenses for "3 no" fishing vessels according to Circular No. 06/2024/TT-BNNPTNT. Up to now, it has completed the registration and granting of fishing licenses for 2,248/2,468 "3 no" fishing vessels (reaching 91.1%); the rate of granting valid fishing licenses reached 85.7%; inspection reached 83% (3,262/3,930 fishing vessels of 12m or more); installation of voyage monitoring equipment reached 100% of fishing vessels of 15m or more in operation (1,940/1,940 fishing vessels).

The entire province has installed voyage monitoring equipment on 100% of fishing vessels of 15 meters or longer in operation. Photo: N.Lan

Completely handle the "3 no" fishing boats

In addition, the control of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports and the implementation of the Electronic Seafood Traceability Software System (eCDT) and the control of output at ports and traceability are being seriously implemented. The progress of procedures for repairing and restoring fishing port infrastructure is being focused on, with some items having started construction. As of October 18, 2024, the competent authorities and local authorities have sanctioned 444 cases of administrative violations/more than 4 billion VND...

Review, count, and count the entire number of "3 no" fishing vessels, fishing vessels that have been deregistered, bought, sold, and transferred.

To carefully prepare the content and working plan with the 5th inspection team of the EC, the Deputy Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with localities to focus resources on thoroughly handling the "3 no" fishing vessels (no registration certificate, no inspection, no fishing license). Before November 20, the thorough handling of more than 7,000 "3 no" fishing vessels must be completed and full data on fishing vessels must be updated in the national fisheries database VNFisbase. In addition, coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications to research and develop a project to submit to the Government on the production and supply of quality-assured VMS equipment for synchronous implementation nationwide, provide and support fishermen free of charge and develop regulations and rules for the equipment and use of VMS equipment managed by the State in accordance with the law.

The Deputy Prime Minister also assigned the Ministry of National Defense to direct the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Navy to launch a high-point campaign of patrolling, inspecting, controlling, and resolutely enforcing the law and handling IUU fishing acts. In particular, the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities directed the police forces of communes, wards, and towns to preside over and coordinate with agencies and functional units at the grassroots level to review, count, and count the entire number of "3 no" fishing vessels, fishing vessels that have been deregistered, bought, sold, and transferred; closely monitor the situation of fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing. Urgently investigate, verify, and thoroughly handle IUU fishing acts, especially acts of disconnecting, sending, and transporting VMS equipment, crossing maritime boundaries; brokering, connecting, and violating illegal fishing in foreign waters...

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/lam-gi-de-go-canh-bao-the-vang-cua-ec-125393.html