It is necessary to carry out the work of combating IUU fishing with a more drastic spirit.

This is one of the directives of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, who chaired the ninth meeting of the National Steering Committee on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), which took place live on the afternoon of February 5 in Kien Giang province.

The conference was connected online with coastal provinces. At the bridge of Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai chaired, along with representatives of leaders of agencies and members of the IUU Steering Committee of the province, representatives of a number of seafood enterprises exporting to the European market. The conference was also connected to related districts, towns and cities.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, since the fourth inspection by the EC, the country has continued to see fishing vessels and fishermen illegally exploiting in foreign waters. Up to now, 17 vessels/190 fishermen have been detained and processed by foreign countries, the most in Kien Giang province (6/11 vessels, accounting for 54.54%). Of which, from the beginning of 2023 to now, 64 vessels/550 fishermen have been detained and processed by foreign countries. Fleet management has not been ensured according to regulations; monitoring and control of fishing vessel activities in some localities have not been synchronized. The situation of fishing vessels violating the VMS disconnection regulations continues to be common, with nearly 5,000 vessels losing connection for more than 10 days. The quality control of fishing logs for tracing the origin of aquatic products in many localities is not ensured according to regulations...

*Bridge point at Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee.*

Particularly in Binh Thuan, in 2023 and January 2024, functional units and coastal localities have drastically and synchronously deployed many solutions to prevent fishing vessels and fishermen from violating foreign waters. At the same time, promote the fishing vessel monitoring system to serve the monitoring, supervision and warning of fishing vessels crossing Vietnam's maritime boundaries. The Department of Fisheries has handled 378 cases with violations such as using unregistered fishing vessels, not re-registering; not having a boat/engine captain certificate. Strictly implement the general review and statistics of existing fishing vessels... However, the Provincial People's Committee assesses that the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters still has potential risks, and it is necessary to focus on implementing all measures to prevent it.

At the conference, leaders of localities, ministries and branches expressed their opinions, pointed out the existing problems, causes and proposed solutions, mechanisms and related policies in the coming time. In particular, some opinions suggested that in the coming time, it is necessary to calculate to reduce debt, extend debt to reduce economic pressure for ship owners. On the other hand, there are policies to support vocational training and job conversion for fishermen...

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said that with the efforts of ministries, sectors and localities, the fight against IUU fishing has had positive changes. He also emphasized that in 3 months, the EC Inspection Delegation will conduct the 5th inspection and this will also be an opportunity for Vietnam to remove the "yellow card", so it is necessary to make an all-out effort, the peak of the peak in fighting IUU fishing. The Deputy Prime Minister requested that from now until the inspection date, efforts must be made to ensure that no fishing vessels violate foreign waters; at the same time, violations must be strictly handled, without exception; and priority must be given to arranging forces and resources for implementation.

*Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang directed at the meeting.*

The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to continue organizing working groups to inspect, urge and guide localities in carrying out the task of combating IUU fishing. The Ministry of National Defense directed the border guards to properly manage ships anchoring; control ships crossing the border, especially focusing on the sea areas outside Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces. The Ministry of Public Security promoted the investigation to bring to trial and prosecute acts of organizing and brokering illegal exit; falsifying documents of State agencies of organizations and individuals to legalize records of aquatic products violating IUU fishing exported to the European market. For coastal localities, it is necessary to carry out anti-IUU fishing work with a more drastic spirit; take advantage of the occasion when fishing vessels and fishermen return home for the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024 to organize propaganda, mobilize, raise awareness of captains, ship owners, fishermen; control and manage the fleet in the area.

In the long term, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that it is necessary to do well on the diplomatic front; strengthen the transformation of fisheries towards sustainability. Along with that, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development needs to calculate a plan for sustainable fisheries exploitation; innovate propaganda in a fundamental, systematic, and long-term manner, not only encouraging sharing but also propagating about institutions and legal regulations if violations occur for captains, ship owners, and fishermen to understand and know.

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