On the morning of September 28th, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, chaired by Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, held an online conference with 28 coastal provinces and cities to discuss preparations for welcoming and working with the 4th inspection team from the European Commission (EC). At the Binh Thuan branch, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai presided over the meeting, along with members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing and leaders of coastal districts and towns.
According to the plan, the inspection team, comprising representatives from the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG-MARE) and the EC Delegation in Vietnam, will work in Vietnam from October 10-18, 2023, to review the results of the EC's recommendations on IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing. The focus will be on controlling fishing vessels violating foreign waters; controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving ports and operating at sea; controlling imported raw materials; and tracing the origin of seafood from fishing.
The EC inspection team is expected to conduct field inspections and technical work from October 10-17. Specifically, from October 11-15, the team will work with the Department of Animal Health, the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development, several export businesses, and conduct field inspections at designated fishing ports under the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) and at local levels. On October 16-17, they will conduct technical work with the Fisheries Inspection Department, the Fisheries Department, the Department of Animal Health, the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development, and other relevant units. On October 18, the team will hold a high-level dialogue with leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development . According to the plan, the EC team will directly inspect the situation and results of combating IUU fishing in several coastal provinces and cities from October 10-15, 2023. The work program in the provinces will focus on eight groups of content.
Through this fourth inspection, the Government leaders and the Head of the National Steering Committee against IUU fishing clearly defined the objectives: To further affirm Vietnam's strong commitment to combating IUU fishing, moving towards harmonizing with international regulations and developing the sustainable Vietnamese fisheries sector. Simultaneously, to build trust and mutual understanding regarding the current situation, efforts, and determination of Vietnam in combating IUU fishing, as well as in the transition from traditional fishing to responsible and sustainable fishing through the implementation of the 2017 Fisheries Law. Furthermore, to demonstrate proactively strengthening cooperation with the EC in promoting and effectively implementing the EC's recommendations in the "yellow card" warning on IUU fishing.
At the conference, Mr. Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasized: From now until October 9th, before the EC inspection team conducts its fourth inspection on IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, it is necessary to finalize the amendments to two legal documents: Government Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP detailing some articles and measures for implementing the Law on Fisheries and Government Decree No. 42/2019/ND-CP stipulating administrative penalties for violations in the fisheries sector. At the same time, The People's Committees of the 28 coastal provinces and cities are required to focus all resources on seriously implementing and completing the tasks assigned in Decision No. 81/QD-TTg and Telegram No. 265/CD-TTg of the Prime Minister.
Binh Thuan province has also developed a detailed plan to welcome and work with the EC inspection team. Therefore, the Provincial People's Committee requests the strengthening of decisive measures to combat IUU fishing in the province and the preparation of contents as directed by the Prime Minister, the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, contributing to the nationwide effort to address the EC's recommendations and to soon lift the "yellow card" imposed on Vietnamese seafood exports.
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