Secretariat: Strictly handle cases of collusion with fishing boats for illegal exploitation

Standing member of the Secretariat Truong Thi Mai has just signed a directive of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

According to the assessment of the Secretariat, in recent years, the fisheries industry has become a key economic sector, with a total annual output of over 9 million tons, contributing about 30% of the GDP of the agricultural sector.

Despite many achievements, the Secretariat assessed that Vietnam's fisheries industry has not developed sustainably, has not removed the European Commission's "yellow card" warning, and has not fully complied with regulations against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing...

Ban Bí thư: Xử nghiêm các vụ móc nối đưa tàu cá đi khai thác trái phép - 1 — Illustration: Tien Thanh.

Besides, according to the Secretariat, the work of inspection, supervision, coordination, detection and handling of violations is not strict, regular and consistent.

Emphasizing that combating illegal fishing is an important and urgent task, the Secretariat is determined to achieve the goal of removing the "yellow card" warning in 2024.

The Secretariat requested to step up propaganda and dissemination of laws; focus on advocacy work, grasp the situation, promptly detect "early, from afar", and prevent right from the shore fishing vessels and fishermen from intentionally violating, especially illegal exploitation in foreign waters.

Along with perfecting policies and adding sanctions to strictly handle violations, the Secretariat requires policies to support the modernization of fisheries, improve livelihoods, provide vocational training, create conditions for fishermen to go offshore, stick to the sea, and improve their lives.

The Secretariat also requested to strengthen the management of fishing vessels, public fisheries vessels, fishing ports, and fleets; and thoroughly handle the situation of fishing vessels without licenses, registration, or inspection.

According to the request of the Secretariat, the authorities must monitor 100% of the seafood output exploited at sea and at ports; no illegal seafood products are exported abroad.

The Secretariat directed to strengthen inspection and examination and promptly investigate, prosecute and strictly try cases of brokerage and collusion to bring Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit in foreign waters, and legalize documents for export shipments...

Besides, according to the Secretariat, it is necessary to pay attention to investing State resources, encouraging socialization, and public-private cooperation to develop technical facilities and fisheries infrastructure.

Also in this Directive, the Secretariat reiterated the requirement to improve the effectiveness of international cooperation, especially with European countries and the EU, strengthen diplomatic measures, seek support from relevant parties to soon remove the "yellow card" warning; and not let illegal fishing vessels and fishermen in foreign waters affect relations with other countries.

At the same time, according to the Secretariat, it is necessary to promptly engage in diplomatic struggle against the arrest and handling of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen who do not violate illegal exploitation by foreign authorities in overlapping, disputed, and undemarcated sea areas with other countries.

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