Efforts to overcome all difficulties, determined to remove the EC's "IUU Yellow Card"

On the afternoon of August 28, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Also attending were leaders of ministries, branches and central agencies. The conference was broadcast live to 28 coastal provinces and cities.

The Prime Minister speaks at the Conference. (Photo: Tran Hai)

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasizing that for many years, we have been subject to the "Yellow Card" for IUU fishing by the European Commission (EC). The EC has conducted 4 inspections and we have focused on inspecting and overcoming the problems pointed out by the EC; submitting to the Secretariat to issue Directive 32-CT/TW dated April 10, 2024; the Government issued Resolution 52/NQ-CP dated April 22, 2024 promulgating the Action Program and Plan to implement Directive 32 of the Secretariat; the Prime Minister has strongly directed relevant ministries, branches and localities to focus on leadership and direction to overcome the existing problems and limitations in the actual implementation of combating IUU fishing.

After nearly 1 year since the 4th inspection by the EC and after 7 years of implementing tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing, removing the EC's "Yellow Card" warning, along with 4 actual inspections by the EC Inspection Team, although we have achieved many important results, which have been recognized, we have not been able to do many of the contents pointed out by the EC, and so far the "Yellow Card" has not been removed. Therefore, many things have been damaged: damage to the country's reputation; damage to seafood exports; damage related to the slow change of people's occupations; how are people's awareness of complying with the country's laws and general regulations of the world and why do they still violate them; the reputation of relevant ministries, branches, agencies and localities.

The Prime Minister stated that the Party's policy on this issue is very clear. The Secretariat recently issued a Directive on this issue to mobilize the strength of the entire political system. So what is the cause? What is the solution to make this work? Whose responsibility is it? What are the upcoming tasks and solutions so that we can solve this problem?

According to the Prime Minister, there are many more difficult tasks that we are determined to do, but up to now, progress has been very slow. Therefore, we need to discuss and evaluate whether the work that has been implemented is "correct and accurate", how effective it is, and why the set goals have not been achieved? What should be done next?

The Secretariat's Directive has been issued, the Government's Resolution is already there, so it must be overcome; the National Assembly has passed a number of sanctions to handle this; the problem is how do we organize implementation? Especially at the local level, how should the provincial level direct? How should the district level organize implementation? The commune and ward level must manage the people in a way that creates jobs and livelihoods for the people, not just tightly manage without creating livelihoods.

Representatives of leaders of ministries, branches and central agencies attended the Conference. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

This is a comprehensive issue, therefore, the Prime Minister suggested that this conference must set out clear directions and policies, especially the bases; provinces and cities must have solutions to direct, not to let the past 7 years of being stuck with the IUU Yellow Card.

The Prime Minister raised the issue that the surrounding countries can manage, so what sanctions do we need, what else do we need to do? Therefore, the base must speak up and have the spirit of saying what must be done, going to war to win, making a promise must be done, and having specific products. The problem is how to organize and manage; along with that is how to organize livelihoods to stabilize people's lives.

The Prime Minister pointed out that time is limited, the discussion content is rich, the requirements are to achieve the goals, point out specific tasks and solutions, leadership and direction from the central to local levels; especially the grassroots political system must get involved, no one can do it for the locality; functional forces at sea must actively get involved to handle this matter.

We must find a satisfactory solution, must assign "clearly people, clear work, clear responsibilities, clear implementation time, clear results, clear products", from there check, monitor, evaluate, summarize, and review, whoever does well will be commended and rewarded, whoever does not do well will be disciplined. The Prime Minister especially emphasized that we must be determined to do it, not to lose the image and reputation of the country, affect exports...

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development spoke at the Conference. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

* According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, regarding the results achieved in combating IUU fishing, the legal framework has been completed according to the EC's recommendations: The Government has issued Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP amending and supplementing Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Fisheries Law; Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP replacing Decree 42/2019/ND-CP on regulations on sanctioning administrative violations in the fisheries sector. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued Circular No. 06/2024/TT-BNNPTNT dated May 6, 2024 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 23/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 15, 2028 to thoroughly handle "3 no" fishing vessels.

On June 12, 2024, the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court issued Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP on guidelines for applying a number of provisions of the Penal Code to handle acts related to the act of sending fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit in foreign waters (effective from August 1, 2024).

The conference took place in person and online in 28 coastal provinces and cities. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

In addition, the Prime Minister approved the National Program for Protection and Development of Aquatic Resources (in Decision No. 76/QD-TTg dated January 18, 2024), the Planning for Protection and Exploitation of Aquatic Resources for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050 (in Decision No. 389/QD-TTg dated May 9, 2024), and the Planning for the system of fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels for the 2021-2023 period, with a vision to 2050 (in Decision No. 582/QD-TTg dated July 3, 2024).

Regarding strengthening fleet management, monitoring, control and supervision of fishing vessel activities: up to now, the total number of fishing vessels nationwide has been reviewed and counted to be 85,495; of which 70,910 are registered vessels; the license quota in offshore areas for the period 2024-2029 has been announced to be 29,552 licenses.

The number of fishing vessels 15m or longer that have installed VMS devices has reached 98.5% (28,512/28,953 fishing vessels), marking a 98% rate. For fishing vessels that are not qualified to operate and fishing vessels at high risk of committing IUU fishing, localities have compiled a list, monitored and managed.

The work of monitoring and supervising fishing vessel activities at sea through the fishing vessel monitoring system, port entry and exit, and port entry and exit in some localities has been carried out seriously and fully according to regulations.

Representatives of leaders of ministries and branches attended the Conference. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

Some fishing ports in localities such as Khanh Hoa (Hon Ro Fishing Port), Binh Dinh (Quy Nhon Fishing Port), Kien Giang (Tac Cau Fishing Port), Binh Thuan (Phan Thiet Fishing Port), Tien Giang (My Tho Port)... have implemented relatively well the work of monitoring and controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, reducing the amount of aquatic products unloaded through ports. However, in general, the control of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports and monitoring of aquatic product output of the whole province has only reached about 50% as prescribed.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed key tasks and solutions to prepare for working with the 5th EC Inspection Delegation. Accordingly, based on the current situation and results of combating IUU fishing, if the shortcomings 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 EC inspection, and there is even a high risk of the warning being raised to a "Red Card".

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends that the Prime Minister direct departments, ministries, branches and localities to seriously implement Directive No. 32-CT/TW of the Secretariat, Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP of the Government and the instructions of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister - Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU; in which it is necessary to focus highly on implementing a number of key and urgent tasks and solutions as follows:

Direct the Ministries of National Defense, Public Security and localities to concentrate resources to prevent and stop fishing vessels from illegally exploiting in foreign waters; especially in the provinces of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Binh Dinh...; strengthen the police and border guard forces to coordinate with local authorities (communes/wards/towns) in key areas to both propagate and mobilize, and promptly detect and prevent from a distance fishing vessels and fishermen intending to illegally exploit in foreign waters. Thoroughly apply the provisions of Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP dated June 12, 2024 of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court on guiding the application of a number of provisions of the Penal Code on criminal prosecution for acts related to illegal exploitation, trading and transportation of aquatic products, to strictly handle acts related to illegal exploitation in foreign waters, sending and transporting VMS equipment in violation of the law; request provinces that still allow fishing vessels to illegally exploit in foreign waters to organize reviews and clarify the responsibilities of relevant organizations and individuals.

Direct the Ministry of Public Security and localities to continue to review, investigate and strictly handle according to the provisions of law, if organizations and individuals are found to deliberately legalize documents for export shipments to the European market. Direct the Ministry of Justice to preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to regularly inspect local responsibilities in handling administrative violations in the field of fisheries, strictly handle organizations and individuals who do not fulfill their duties in performing public duties, and punish IUU fishing acts.

Direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide information determining Vietnam's maritime boundaries with countries in the region as prescribed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to determine and guide fishing vessels and fishermen to legally exploit seafood in sea areas in accordance with Vietnamese and international laws.

Directing localities to: urgently complete the work of fleet management, registration, inspection, issuance of fishing licenses, and marking of fishing vessels; thoroughly handle "3 no" fishing vessels before December 31, 2024. Investigate and strictly punish cases of illegal fishing in foreign waters, illegal cutting, sending, and transporting of VMS discovered since the beginning of 2023, ensuring specific results and data. Strictly control from the shore, resolutely handle the responsibilities of relevant organizations, individuals, and functional forces that do not fulfill their assigned duties and tasks in performing their official duties; cover up, condone, and assist IUU fishing, allowing fishing vessels violating IUU fishing to enter and exit ports, enter and exit ports to participate in fishing activities.

Urgently and seriously implement the electronic traceability system for exploited aquatic products (eCDT) to ensure transparency and legality in confirming, certifying, and tracing the origin of exploited aquatic products. Arrange and ensure resources (human resources, funding, means, equipment) for relevant agencies and functional forces to perform anti-exploitation tasks, be on duty 24/7 to monitor and supervise fishing vessel activities at sea through the fishing vessel monitoring system, enforce the law, and handle IUU fishing acts. Assign members of the Government to chair the working groups to inspect and supervise, and promptly rectify anti-IUU fishing work in localities before September 30, 2024.

Source