High effort, positive change
The conference was held to comprehensively evaluate the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing in the past time, especially focusing on pointing out the shortcomings and “bottlenecks” in fleet management, monitoring the journey through the VMS system, tracing the origin and handling violations. At the same time, this is also an important step in preparing the content and plan to receive and work with the Inspection Delegation of the European Commission (EC) scheduled to visit Vietnam at the end of this year.
From the new requirements put forth by the EC in online meetings in late 2024 and early 2025, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien affirmed that organizing this Northern regional conference is extremely urgent. The EC has acknowledged Vietnam's efforts and positive results in combating IUU fishing, but also made a series of specific recommendations that need to be absorbed and adjusted, especially for local groups that have not yet been resolute and have not really made any changes.
At the conference, Standing Deputy Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu said that with more than 3,000 fishing vessels, including more than 1,000 vessels of 15m or more, with large capacity, Nghe An identified a great responsibility in working with the whole country to remove the "yellow card" of the EC. Based on information on the characteristics of Nghe An's fisheries, according to Mr. Hieu, in recent times, the province has implemented many solutions such as completing the registration and licensing of fishing fleets; strictly handling the situation of "3 no" vessels; investing in port and fishing wharf infrastructure; supporting fishermen in installing journey monitoring equipment; organizing many inspection teams, increasing patrols and monitoring of fishing activities at sea; and resolutely punishing violations, especially violations of VMS connection.
Nghe An has mobilized the entire political system to take drastic action. Thanks to that, the fight against IUU fishing has seen a clear change, from awareness to action. In the coming time, the province will continue to review and supplement specific solutions to ensure sustainability and effectiveness in implementing the EC's recommendations in the coming time.
Determined to remove the IUU "yellow card" in the fourth quarter of 2025
At the Conference, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment updated the results of the implementation of the fight against IUU fishing according to the recommendations of the EC; shared some experiences in fleet management, guided people to comply with the identification signs of fishing vessels and license plates of each locality; guided on how to manage and update information on fishing vessels about to expire; requested localities to maintain VMS connection, regularly check and remind ship owners to fully perform their journey management obligations...
According to the report of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, the country's aquatic product output in the first quarter reached nearly 2 million tons, up 2.8% over the same period last year. Of which, the exploited output reached about 880,000 tons, almost unchanged (+0.1%) while the aquaculture output reached more than 1.1 million tons, up 5.1%. The seafood export turnover reached 2.29 billion USD, up 18.1% over the same period in 2024.
Director of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control Tran Dinh Luan assessed that the growth target of the fisheries sector this year at 4.35% will be a big challenge in the context of the uncertain international market. However, positive signals from the two main products, shrimp and pangasius - especially shrimp growing over 37.8% in the first quarter, have created an optimistic foundation for the whole year plan.
The Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance also presented some experiences in fleet management and requested localities to make a list of vessels entering and leaving ports and to properly manage fishing vessels fishing at sea. Regularly review and include fishing vessels whose licenses are about to expire in the list of fishing vessels at high risk of IUU violations so that local authorities and functional forces can coordinate in monitoring.
Representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the northern coastal provinces such as Quang Binh, Ha Tinh , Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa... shared initial results, difficulties, obstacles and proposed solutions, especially regarding resources, coordination mechanisms and handling of violations.
Concluding the Conference, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien once again emphasized: Combating IUU fishing is not only the task of the agricultural sector, but also the responsibility of the entire political system. Localities need to proactively follow the direction of the Central Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to develop specific action plans, implement synchronously, resolutely and effectively. Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is actively advising the Prime Minister to issue a new Directive to further consolidate the legal basis and create a combined strength for Vietnam to welcome and work with the EC Inspection Delegation by the end of 2025 - a key step towards the goal of removing the "yellow card" in 2025 in a substantial and sustainable manner.
Gia Hong - Ngo Toan
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/thoi-co-de-go-the-vang-iuu-nam-2025-post546421.html
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