Apply strong measures against fishing vessels illegally exploiting seafood

SGGPO 11/08/2023 09:45

"Strong and resolute measures will be taken to prevent fishing vessels from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters in order to quickly remove the EC's yellow card," Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan affirmed in a report recently sent to National Assembly delegates.

Fishing boats in Kien Giang waters. Photo: QUOC BINH

According to the Minister, illegal fishing (IUU fishing) is one of the most serious threats to the sustainable exploitation of biological resources, especially marine biodiversity. Although Vietnam has actively organized and implemented synchronous and drastic tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing and achieved many important results recognized and highly appreciated by the EC, by July 2023, Vietnam has not yet removed the yellow card.

The Minister frankly admitted that the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels violating foreign waters to fish illegally is still complicated: From the beginning of 2023 to August 8, 2023, 26 vessels/166 fishermen continued to be arrested and processed by foreign countries (not to mention the cases of 10 vessels/36 fishermen being arrested and processed by Cambodia), concentrated in the provinces of Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu , Tien Giang, Ca Mau and Kien Giang.

Along with that, the work of confirming and certifying the origin of aquatic products from domestic exploitation, especially imports, still has many shortcomings and inadequacies, and has not yet met the EC's traceability requirements.

Handling of IUU fishing activities is still limited, law enforcement, handling and punishment of IUU fishing activities in some localities are very weak, irresponsible and inconsistent, especially violations of illegal fishing in foreign waters, loss of VMS connection, crossing maritime boundaries...

Affirming Vietnam's political determination in this issue, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that in the coming time, the Ministry of National Defense will preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and relevant ministries, branches and localities to focus on patrolling, inspecting and controlling fishing vessels operating at sea; especially in the bordering, overlapping and undemarcated sea areas between Vietnam and related coastal countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.); areas with a high concentration of fishing vessels operating on seafood exploitation and at islands, river mouths, inlets and flats.

These are places where there is a potential risk of unregistered vessels, vessels without fishing licenses, vessels without VMS equipment, etc. evading the control of authorities to participate in illegal seafood exploitation.

"The authorities will inspect and control 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports through coastal border posts/stations to ensure that they meet all the prescribed conditions when participating in fishing activities; if there are cases where fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions are still confirmed to enter and leave ports to participate in fishing activities, the commander of that unit will be responsible before the Ministry of National Defense and before the law," Minister Le Minh Hoan stated.

In addition, the authorities will investigate and thoroughly punish cases of illegal fishing in foreign waters; in cases where there is sufficient basis for criminal proceedings, they will investigate and prosecute according to the law acts of intentional violations of illegal fishing in foreign waters (deleting registration numbers, using fake registration numbers domestically or abroad; disconnecting VMS devices or sending VMS devices on other fishing vessels...).

Organizations and individuals who act as brokers or connect Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters will also be investigated, handled and prosecuted by authorities in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security.

Source