The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just sent an official dispatch to the Chairmen of the People's Committees of 28 coastal provinces and cities regarding speeding up the implementation of a number of contents to combat illegal fishing, and preparing a report to serve the 5th EC Inspection Delegation.
As of March 5, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has received reports from 11/28 provinces (Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Ca Mau). In general, localities have closely followed the content and reported results as required in Official Dispatch No. 856/BNN-TS; some localities have actively implemented, achieved results and had clear changes (Quang Nam, Ca Mau, Hai Phong...).
In particular, localities have been active in handling and sanctioning administrative violations against vessels that do not maintain operations or disable their voyage monitoring equipment during operations at sea, do not report their location, and do not return the vessel to shore as prescribed. However, the reports are still sketchy, lacking data, and do not have sufficient information as required to assess the results of enforcement of fisheries laws and combat illegal fishing in localities under the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister. In order to seriously and effectively implement the directions of the Government and the Prime Minister to create real changes in localities in the enforcement of fisheries laws, combating IUU fishing, and preparing for the working content with the 5th EC Inspection Delegation in 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the Chairmen of the People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run cities to deploy a number of key contents.
Accordingly, directly direct the review, assessment and specific and detailed reporting of the contents in Official Dispatch No. 856/BNN-TS of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Establish a mechanism, assign competent agencies and local authorities to strictly and regularly control the location and status of fishing vessels that do not maintain operations or disable long-term voyage monitoring equipment, and are not qualified to operate. Verify information and strictly handle (without applying warning or reminder measures) the above cases without reporting location, bringing fishing vessels back to shore, fishing vessels crossing the boundary, fishing vessels violating foreign waters according to regulations for violations. In addition, direct competent authorities to verify and thoroughly handle cases of fishing vessels that do not maintain operations or disable their voyage monitoring equipment during operations at sea and cross maritime boundaries, violating foreign waters, especially for fishing vessels with a length of 24m or more in the locality in January and February 2024 (in 2 months, Binh Thuan had 139 cases of fishing vessels with a length of 15 to less than 24m that did not maintain operations or disabled VMS equipment for more than 10 days; 16 cases of not maintaining operations or disabling VMS for 6 months).
In addition, direct and arrange resources to implement the Electronic Traceability System (eCDT) locally to ensure control of all information on fishing vessels entering, leaving ports, loading and unloading output through ports as a basis for verifying information serving traceability such as certificates of origin of exploited aquatic products (SC papers), certificates of origin of exploited aquatic products (CC papers) on the Electronic Traceability Software System for exploited aquatic products; list of fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing on the VMS database... according to the instructions of the Department of Fisheries, meeting the EC's requirements on controlling fishing vessel activities and tracing the origin of exploited aquatic products.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests that the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directly direct and review the implementation results in the locality and sign and send a report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development before March 20, 2024 to synthesize a report to the Prime Minister and prepare progress reports to work with the 5th EC Inspection Delegation.
Mr. VAN
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