Promoting solutions to combat IUU fishing for the benefit of the country and its people

The Prime Minister called on fishermen to declare and report, not to exploit IUU seafood, for the benefit of the nation, the people, the interests of the fishermen themselves and international obligations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh : Promoting solutions to combat IUU fishing for the benefit of the country and its people. (Source: VGP)

On October 7, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference on promoting solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU); preparing to welcome and work with the 4th European Commission Inspection Delegation.

The conference was held online between the Government Headquarters and 28 coastal provinces and centrally run cities. Attending the conference were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Head of the Steering Committee and members of the National Steering Committee on IUU; leaders of relevant ministries, branches, agencies and leaders of 28 coastal provinces and centrally run cities.

At the conference, delegates focused on comprehensively reviewing the implementation of solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Vietnam; analyzing results, limitations, and lessons learned; and proposing tasks and solutions to end illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Delegates focused on discussing the results and experiences in building and perfecting institutions related to seafood exploitation; preventing and handling fishing vessels violating illegal seafood exploitation in foreign waters; propaganda, education and persuasion work for people; reviewing records confirming and certifying the origin of seafood; creating livelihoods to ensure people's lives; promoting aquaculture, limiting wild fishing; protecting marine ecosystems, etc.

Leaders of ministries, sectors and localities admitted that although the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has achieved many important results, violations have not yet ended. The main reason is that the awareness of some people is still not good. The government and functional sectors, especially at the grassroots level, are not resolute. The handling is not enough to deter. Changing the livelihoods and production methods of fishermen is still slow...

Acknowledging and appreciating the opinions of leaders of ministries, branches and localities, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the fight against IUU fishing has been actively implemented, the Government has focused on leadership and direction and has received strong response and participation from ministries, branches and localities. The legal corridor and related institutions against IUU fishing have been improved and consolidated. Management of fishing equipment has been tightened; control of offshore fishing has been strengthened. Violations in fishing have been resolutely handled...

However, the results are still not as expected, there is still much to do such as: law enforcement, punishment of IUU fishing violations is sometimes and in some places not strict; some fishing vessels and some businesses show signs of violating IUU regulations...

“Fishing is a long-standing livelihood for fishermen. Therefore, the transformation is not something that can be done in a day or two. We must persevere,” the Prime Minister acknowledged.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that fighting IUU fishing is first and foremost for the benefit of the nation and the people. (Source: VGP)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the consistent policy of the Party and State is to be persistent and steadfast in combating IUU fishing, protecting the ocean and marine resources, and promoting sustainable development; closely combining marine economic development with protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity; and respecting international law.

Believing that combating IUU fishing is first and foremost for the benefit of the nation and the people, the Prime Minister requested to continuously raise people's awareness in law enforcement, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Along with that, creating livelihoods and taking care of jobs for people, towards increasing aquaculture and processing, reducing wild fishing; thoroughly resolving recommendations from countries and organizations in seafood exploitation; not allowing new developments and not allowing IUU fishing to occur.

In that spirit, the Prime Minister requested heads of relevant departments, ministries, branches and localities to unify awareness, focus on leadership, direction and take drastic actions to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing, promptly complete overcoming existing problems and limitations; and effectively carry out tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing.

The Prime Minister requested the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, ministries, branches, localities, information and communication agencies to direct and organize propaganda and dissemination of fisheries laws, especially regulations against IUU fishing, to communes, wards, coastal fishermen and relevant organizations and individuals; increase the duration and quality of information and propaganda at home and abroad about Vietnam's efforts and results in combating IUU fishing.

In addition to highlighting positive aspects, praising typical and outstanding cases and results; at the same time, criticizing intentional violations; fighting against distorted and incorrect views of hostile, opportunistic and reactionary forces on the Party's viewpoints and policies, the State's laws and Vietnam's efforts in preventing and combating IUU fishing.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed the message demonstrating the political determination of the Vietnamese Government and strengthening international cooperation in combating IUU fishing, preventing Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters; coordinating with countries and organizations to effectively resolve arising issues and protect citizens in this field.

The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of National Defense to preside over and coordinate with coastal provinces and centrally run cities and relevant ministries and sectors to focus on implementing strong measures, resolutely preventing Vietnamese fishing vessels from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters. The Ministry of Public Security urgently consolidates records, prosecutes cases of brokerage and collusion to bring Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters to ensure the strictness of the law.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to organize working groups to inspect, urge and guide localities in implementing the task of combating IUU fishing; welcome and work with the EC Inspection Group, especially proactively coordinating and supporting localities in welcoming and working with the EC Inspection Group to ensure the best results.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assigned the People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run cities to urgently develop detailed plans, programs, and contents for welcoming and working with the 4th EC Inspection Delegation; carefully prepare relevant documents, files, and logistics; assign specific tasks to relevant agencies and units to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to work with the EC Inspection Delegation to ensure the best results; and ensure absolute security and safety for the EC Inspection Delegation during its working period.

“Localities must cooperate, be frank, honest, modest, receptive, and listen; not be reactive to get the best results during the EC inspection,” the Prime Minister reminded.

The Head of Government requested the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities to strictly implement regulations on fishing vessel management, complete 100% of registration, inspection, and issuance of fishing licenses... (Source: VGP)

The Prime Minister also requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to closely coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries and branches to focus on implementing strong measures, resolutely preventing local fishing vessels from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters; and attaching responsibility to the heads of Party committees, authorities at all levels and functional forces with the implementation results.

Provinces closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct a general inspection and review of the entire number of fishing vessels, grasp the current status of fishing vessels to screen and classify to ensure monitoring and supervision of all activities of the fleet, handle violations according to legal regulations, especially "3 no" fishing vessels; closely monitor and supervise fishing vessels operating at sea, ensure compliance with regulations on turning on VMS devices when participating in seafood exploitation.

Localities direct law enforcement forces, relevant agencies and units to launch peak periods of patrolling, inspecting, controlling and sanctioning administrative violations in the fisheries sector, focusing on strictly and thoroughly handling cases of illegal fishing in foreign waters, violations of VMS regulations..., ensuring an increase in the number of verified and handled cases.

The Head of Government requested the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities to strictly implement regulations on fishing vessel management, complete 100% of registration, inspection, and issuance of fishing licenses; fully update fishing vessel data in the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), ensure consistency in local reports and on VNFishbase; control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports; closely monitor the output of exploited aquatic products loaded and unloaded through ports; ensure 100% of fishing vessels dock at designated ports, and monitor 100% of exploited aquatic products. Along with that, strictly comply with regulations on confirmation, certification, and traceability; strictly handle organizations and individuals who intentionally legalize documents of export shipments to the European market.

“Local authorities, especially grassroots authorities, are the ones who directly contact and manage fishermen. Therefore, it is necessary to manage, grasp and strictly implement issues related to combating IUU fishing. Letting IUU fishing happen is first and foremost the responsibility of localities. Officials, especially leaders, if they let IUU fishing happen and fail to create livelihoods for people, are considered to have failed to fulfill their responsibilities,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

For the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and seafood exporting enterprises, the Prime Minister requested to continue to join hands and accompany the Government in implementing regulations on IUU, not purchasing, processing, and exporting seafood products of IUU origin; closely coordinate with competent authorities in investigating, verifying, and strictly and thoroughly handling organizations, individuals, and seafood enterprises that do illegal business, legalize documents, assist, and condone IUU behavior.

With the view that people are both the center, the subject, the goal, the driving force, and the resource of development, the Prime Minister asked people to raise their sense of responsibility as citizens, to live and work according to the Constitution, the law, and the responsibility to protect the environment and international obligations. The Prime Minister called on fishermen to declare and report, not to exploit IUU seafood, for the benefit of the nation, the people, the interests of fishermen themselves, and international obligations.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-thuc-day-giai-phap-chong-khai-thac-hai-san-iuu-vi-loi-ich-cua-dat-nuoc-va-nguoi-dan-245224.html