Reporting on the results of combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, removing the "yellow card" warning from the European Commission (EC), the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - the standing unit of the Steering Committee, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said, after more than 5 years (from October 23, 10) to implement solutions to combat IUU fishing warnings and remove the EC's yellow card, implement the measures to combat IUU fishing. For the third time in October 2017, the anti-IUU fishing situation has had positive changes. However, at present, there are still many limitations that are slow to be overcome locally, which have been recognized, evaluated and recommended by the EC's inspection team.

Accordingly, the EC continues to recognize and appreciate Vietnam's political determination, especially the attention and drastic direction of the Standing Secretariat of the Secretariat, the Government and the Prime Minister.

 Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang delivered a speech.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has well coordinated with ministries, branches and localities, directing and organizing the implementation of many positive solutions to combat IUU fishing; well prepare the content, plan and work program with the EC's inspection team, provide all relevant records and documents to ensure transparency, honesty and objectivity. In fact, the situation against IUU fishing has improved much more than the second actual inspection in 2019.

Specifically, at present, the basic legal framework has met international requirements on combating IUU fishing and continues to be improved in a regional direction. Fleet management, installation of VMS equipment (the device provides information about the position, track and some activities of ships for managers, providing information services between the management station and ships operating in the control area of ​​the system-PV) there has been a positive change; deployed a software system to monitor and manage administrative violations in the fisheries sector. The implementation of control of imported fishery products under the provisions of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) has overall improved better than before.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Binh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army spoke at the conference. 

The report also points out some shortcomings and limitations in the implementation of anti-IUU fishing. Accordingly, the organization and implementation of the Fisheries Law and anti-IUU regulations have not been synchronized and across localities. Currently, there are a number of localities that perform relatively well, while many other localities have not yet met the requirements.  

Regarding preventing and handling Vietnamese fishing vessels illegally fishing in foreign waters, maritime law enforcement forces patrol, inspect and control in bordering, overlapping seas and key areas to prevent and handle fishing vessels committing violations. Up to now, the forces have prevented and stopped the violation of Vietnamese fishing boats in the Pacific island countries and countries.

The opinions discussed at the meeting showed that the main reason was that the heads of authorities at all levels in some localities did not pay due attention to the task of combating IUU fishing, the fishery resources were increasingly depleted and there was still a lack of strong enough sanctions against illegal fishing subjects. Besides, there is still a situation where fishermen send navigation equipment to other ships or use other measures to avoid being monitored.

Law enforcement and administrative sanctions have been actively deployed in many localities and law enforcement forces at sea. In 2020, the forces sanctioned more than 2.000 cases with a total fine of more than 61 billion VND; In 2021, there will be nearly 1.700 thousand cases with a total fine of over 21 billion VND; by 2022, to sanction nearly 1.000 cases with a total fine of over 16 billion VND; Since the beginning of the year, fines of more than 13 billion VND.

In general, the rate of cases handled is still low compared to reality and uneven among localities, especially violations of not recording or submitting fishing logs, not maintaining or disconnecting cruise monitoring equipment on fishing vessels, fishing in the wrong area, using prohibited fishing gear and fishing gear...

Proposing key tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing until October 10, preparing to work with the 2023th EC inspection team, the delegates to the conference suggested that the forces take strong measures to resolutely prevent and prevent fishing vessels from illegally fishing in foreign waters. Along with that, implementing traceability of caught seafood; control imported fishing materials, especially imported by container ships; concentrated on handling IUU violations.

Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister agreed with the Report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; highly appreciated the results achieved by the authorities in the efforts to combat IUU fishing over the past time.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang emphasized that, if it is not drastic to remove the "yellow card", the level may be increased to the "red card" level, which means that Vietnam will lose its seafood export market to Europe. The Deputy Prime Minister said that illegal fishing is not only narrowing the seafood export market but also affecting the image of the country. The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that, so far, there has been no effective solution and there are still situations in which management is loose in some localities. Clearly stating his determination to prevent illegal fishing in accordance with EC recommendations, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang suggested that, in the immediate future, next October, ministries, branches and localities should try to get the best possible opportunity to withdraw the "yellow card"; expressed the desire for ministries, branches and localities to be more drastic and responsible.

News, photos: VNA