Authorities and fishermen work together to remove IUU 'yellow card'

Reporting to the working group, the People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province (BR-VT) said that the total number of fishing vessels in the province as of March 31, 2024 was 4,484, of which 2,734 were operating offshore. The total number of fishing vessels in the province is gradually decreasing, in line with the industry's strategic development plan.

Bộ trưởng Bộ NN-PTNT Lê Minh Hoan cùng đoàn công tác tại cảng cá Cát Lở — Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan and his delegation at Cat Lo fishing port

Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has well implemented the coordination regulations between agencies, departments and functional forces such as the Command of Coast Guard Region 3, Command of Navy Region 2, fisheries control forces and rapid response teams of districts, towns and cities; regularly monitoring and handling information about fishing vessels losing connection to the voyage monitoring device (VMS), crossing maritime boundaries, overcoming the situation of fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters. From August 2022 to now, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has not had any fishing vessels violating the law that have been arrested by foreign countries.

At the time of working with the European Commission (EC) Inspection Team, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has completed the review of the entire number of registered fishing vessels, updating 100% of them into the national fishing vessel database. The rate of inspection of fishing vessels with the longest length of 15 m or more has reached more than 85%. The rate of food safety certificates has reached 99.74%. As of March 31, the province has 2,647/2,734 offshore fishing vessels installed with journey monitoring equipment...

Mr. Nguyen Cong Vinh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, said that the province has overcome the 2 shortcomings and limitations previously pointed out by the EC Inspection Team. Specifically, in the case of a fishing vessel without a fishing license and losing VMS connection but still operating (fishing vessel BV 96768 TS), on November 30, 2023, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision on administrative sanctions against the owner of the above vessel with a total fine of more than 1.3 billion VND for the 3 violations. The EC Inspection Team discovered 8 fishing vessels with unknown registration numbers at the Phuoc Hiep anchorage area (Long Dien district), suspected of operating, including 1 vessel from Bac Lieu province and 7 vessels from Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. The locality has issued a decision on administrative sanctions, with a total fine of 35 million VND. These vessels are being managed and monitored by the Border Guard and local authorities.

Before working with the People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, on the same morning, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan and the working delegation met with fishermen, seafood processing enterprises, and inspected Cat Lo fishing port (Vung Tau city).

Minister Le Minh Hoan hopes that everyone will act together not only to prevent illegal and unregulated fishing, to remove the yellow card, but also importantly for future generations and for sustainable development. "This is the last chance to remove the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnam's seafood industry when in May 2024, the EC inspection team will come to conduct the final inspection," said Minister Le Minh Hoan.

Seafood processing enterprises and fishermen in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province affirmed their determination to join hands to remove the EC’s yellow card, combat IUU fishing and request the authorities to strictly handle fishing vessels that violate the law; guide and remove obstacles for enterprises and fishermen regarding fishing licenses and confirmation of seafood origin.

The People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issue a document requesting the Ministry of National Defense to allow the Navy, Fisheries Surveillance, and Coast Guard forces to use strong measures to handle, suppress, and escort fishing vessels and fishermen who violate the law to shore (the nearest place) for strict handling according to the provisions of law, for serious violations of the law if the captain deliberately resists and does not voluntarily come ashore according to the direction of local authorities.

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