Combating IUU fishing is a very important task.

This afternoon, October 25, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired the 11th online conference on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).

Delegates attending the conference at Quang Tri bridge - Photo: Tran Tuyen

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said that after nearly 7 years of implementing measures to prevent and combat IUU fishing, removing the EC's "yellow card" warning and undergoing 4 inspections by the EC, Vietnam has now completed the legal framework to meet the requirements of combating IUU fishing; strengthened fleet management, installed voyage monitoring equipment (VMS); focused on building a national fisheries database, controlling imported aquatic products according to the provisions of the Port State Measures Agreement, law enforcement, and sanctions for IUU fishing violations have been strengthened more than before.

Authorities have initiated 12 criminal cases and are investigating to initiate 3 cases related to VMS. Since the 4th inspection, there have been 4,237 cases of administrative violations in the fisheries sector that have been fined with over 109 billion VND...

The EC highly appreciates Vietnam's political determination, especially the attention and strong direction of the central level.

However, the direction and implementation at the local level still have many limitations, leading to some tasks changing very slowly, not meeting the requirements according to the EC's recommendations in the 4th inspection.

The situation of fishing vessels violating IUU fishing in foreign waters continues to be complicated and increasing compared to before. Up to now, the number of fishing vessel registrations updated on the national fisheries database has only reached about 91.6%.

Currently, the country still has 7,035 “3 no” fishing vessels (no license, no registration, no inspection). Since the beginning of 2024, 61 vessels/418 fishermen have been arrested by foreign countries.

In addition, law enforcement and handling of IUU fishing violations are still very low, inconsistent and uneven among localities; in some localities, fishing vessels with signs of IUU fishing violations move to other localities to dock at ports to unload seafood, enter and exit ports, and enter and exit ports to operate.

Authorities at some fishing ports have not strictly implemented regulations on controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving ports and handling IUU fishing violations. The quality of fishing logs is still not guaranteed...

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that combating IUU fishing is an extremely important task, related to the interests of fishermen and seafood export activities.

Therefore, ministries, branches and localities need to focus on further promoting their roles, functions and tasks in managing and supervising fishing vessel activities at sea and at fishing ports.

Simultaneously launch a peak campaign of patrolling, inspecting, controlling, and resolutely enforcing the law and handling IUU fishing violations. Urgently overcome existing problems and thoroughly handle "3 no" fishing vessels before December 31, 2024.

Carefully prepare the program, plan, and content of the 5th working session with the EC inspection delegation, scheduled to take place in November 2024. Step up propaganda work at home and abroad about Vietnam's results in combating IUU fishing.

Tran Tuyen

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/chong-khai-thac-iuu-la-nhiem-vu-het-suc-quan-trong-189263.htm