Strengthening international cooperation to combat IUU fishing.

DNO - On the morning of April 23rd, in Da Nang, the U.S. Embassy, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State, in coordination with the Fisheries Department ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ), organized a regional workshop on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong delivered the opening speech at the regional workshop on combating IUU fishing on the morning of April 23. Photo: VAN HOANG

The workshop took place from April 23 to 25 with the participation of more than 70 delegates and international experts in the field of fisheries law enforcement from 12 countries: the United States, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In his opening remarks at the workshop, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong stated that Vietnam clearly identifies sustainable fisheries development as the core element in addressing the issue of IUU fishing. The Vietnamese fisheries sector has developed and implemented comprehensive strategies and projects for sustainable and responsible development.

Some notable achievements include: achieving a high level of awareness and decisive action, and consensus throughout society regarding the implementation of legal regulations and regulations on combating IUU fishing; and building a comprehensive and complete legal framework for responsible fisheries management and combating IUU fishing in accordance with international standards.

The management of fishing vessels has seen many positive changes, such as: the construction and operation of a national database on fishing vessels, connecting from the central to local levels; over 97.65% (28,797/29,8489) of offshore fishing vessels (with a length of 15m or more) are equipped with VMS vessel tracking devices.

The issue of seafood traceability is implemented and controlled throughout the chain, from controlling production volume at ports to issuing export certificates and controlling raw materials at processing plants.

Establish a national database on administrative penalties for violations in the fisheries sector from the central to local levels, creating aggregated data to serve law enforcement work.

The workshop was attended by more than 70 delegates and international experts in fisheries law enforcement from 12 countries. Photo: VAN HOANG

According to Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong, combating IUU fishing requires the joint efforts of the international community, especially close cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the region.

The 3rd Regional Workshop on Combating IUU Fishing is a forum to strengthen cooperation among member countries in the region, creating a platform for networking with experts and fisheries law enforcement agencies in the region and internationally.

This is an opportunity for law enforcement agencies combating IUU fishing to share challenges and practical experiences in combating IUU fishing, especially to strengthen bilateral cooperation in fisheries law enforcement.

At the workshop, delegates focused on exchanging and sharing updates on global trends in combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing; challenges to fisheries in the region; initiatives to enhance cooperation and information sharing; an overview of the Central and Western Pacific Fisheries Commission and tools for monitoring, controlling, and supervising fishing vessels (MCS); and experiences in handling IUU violations domestically and internationally through simulated case studies.

VAN HOANG

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