Prime Minister: Maximizing the use of tools to combat IUU fishing and reviewing and proposing new tools.

On the evening of December 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 26th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 26th meeting of the National Steering Committee against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Attending the meeting, which was streamed live to coastal provinces and cities, were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Head of the Steering Committee; Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang; and leaders of central and local ministries and agencies.

At the meeting, delegates continued to review and reassess the tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing that the Government leaders had assigned to ministries, sectors, and localities; with the overarching goal of "combating IUU fishing" as a key political task, both urgent and long-term, to achieve the "dual goals": (1) Remove the EC's "yellow card"; (2) Restructure Vietnam's fisheries industry to develop sustainably, legally, transparently, strongly transform from fishing to aquaculture, processing, and strengthen international cooperation.

According to reports and opinions expressed at the meeting, over the past week, ministries, sectors, and localities continued to implement tasks as directed by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, and the Head of the Steering Committee, achieving some concrete results.

The Prime Minister demanded strict action against any businesses importing seafood shipments that violate IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing regulations. - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The total number of fishing vessels registered and updated on Vnfishbase in all localities is 79,231/79,231 (100%). Traceability activities are being actively implemented for both domestically harvested and imported seafood products. During the week, no fishing vessels violating foreign waters were apprehended. Regarding penalties for shipments of swordfish violating EC recommendations, the Khanh Hoa Provincial Police have initiated criminal proceedings against T&H Nha Trang Co., Ltd. and Thinh Hung Co., Ltd. Information and communication efforts regarding Vietnam's fight against IUU fishing continue to be strengthened. However, many tasks have not met the set requirements and deadlines.

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that all relevant agencies and entities within the political system must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, reviewing and inspecting their work based on their functions, duties, and powers; acting more decisively and swiftly, resolutely declaring war on IUU fishing, absolutely avoiding formalism, shirking responsibility, or evading accountability; and completing each task thoroughly.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha delivers a speech - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Besides recognizing and commending localities and agencies that have performed well, the Prime Minister requested that Ministers, Heads of Departments, and Chairmen of People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities seriously rectify shortcomings, promptly complete unfinished tasks, clarify the causes, review and handle responsibilities according to Party regulations and State laws, report to competent authorities, and especially conduct cadre evaluations according to Regulation 366-QĐ/TW of the Politburo on reviewing and evaluating the quality of collectives and individuals in the political system.

The Prime Minister requested that localities do a good job of managing citizens in their areas. Based on the review, the Government Inspectorate will intervene, individualizing responsibility at localities that are slow or have not completed their assigned tasks in managing the fishing fleet and fishermen.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urgently working and cross-referencing with relevant countries to unify information on Vietnamese fishing vessels/fishermen who have been detained, providing lists, processing status, and repatriation information so that domestic authorities have a basis to definitively handle the cases and hold accountable the organizing and brokering networks. Agencies and localities are urgently, decisively, and seriously verifying information and handling violations by fishing vessels and fishermen, while simultaneously reviewing and holding accountable the relevant parties.

Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang speaks - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Khánh Hòa Provincial Police have issued a decision to initiate legal proceedings, and the Prime Minister has requested that other localities continue to decisively handle all organizations and individuals involved in the matter.   Issuing certificates of origin (SC) and certificates of origin (CC) for swordfish shipments exported to the European market in 2021-2022 by T&H Nha Trang Co., Ltd. and Thinh Hung Co., Ltd. in Khanh Hoa province.

The Prime Minister demanded strict action against any businesses importing seafood shipments that violate IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing regulations; the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) must take responsibility for this.

The Prime Minister requested the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations to get involved, localities to launch movements, and media agencies to intensify information and propaganda efforts to create public consensus in condemning violations.

Emphasizing that the responsibility lies with the managers if they fail to achieve their goals despite having the available tools, the Prime Minister requested that localities, ministries, and sectors utilize all available tools, review legal instruments and resources, and, if necessary, propose to the competent authorities that the Government immediately provide additional tools, resources, and funding within its authority.

Representatives of ministries and agencies deliver speeches - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has instructed ministries, sectors, and localities to prepare and promptly complete the progress report to be submitted to the EC in accordance with requirements, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and verifiable data; and to continue to regularly exchange information and maintain close contact with the EC to promptly provide information when requested.

The Ministry of National Defence continues to maintain patrols and control of maritime areas bordering other countries; strictly controls fishing vessels entering and leaving ports; and resolutely prevents vessels that do not meet the requirements from departing.

The Ministry of Public Security has directed local police to expedite investigations and strictly handle networks involved in brokering and organizing illegal fishing by fishing vessels/fishermen in foreign waters, as well as acts of document legitimization and fraud in the supply chain; and to coordinate in clarifying the responsibilities of organizations and individuals involved in cases/shipments showing signs of IUU violations.

The People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities with fishing vessels shall continue to strictly implement regulations on registration and issuance of fishing licenses, control fishing vessels with "three no's" (no permits, no ...

Currently, only 7 out of 22 provinces and cities have issued policies for vocational retraining for their residents. Therefore, within the next 5 days, the remaining 15 provinces and cities must complete the issuance of these policies to create sustainable livelihoods for fishermen.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism continues to direct media agencies to strengthen information and communication about Vietnam's activities in combating IUU fishing.

Source: https://dangcongsan.org.vn/tin-hoat-dong/thu-tuong-su-dung-toi-da-cac-cong-cu-de-chong-khai-thac-iuu-va-ra-soat-de-xuat-cong-cu-moi.html