Urgent and key solutions to combat IUU fishing

In order to continue to overcome the limitations and shortcomings in the work of preventing and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and to make efforts with the whole country to remove the EC's "Yellow Card" in the upcoming 5th inspection by the EC Inspection Team (expected at the end of the second quarter of 2024), the Provincial People's Committee has proposed urgent solutions.

Accordingly, functional departments, branches and People's Committees of coastal districts, towns and cities thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the direction of the Standing Committee of the Secretariat, the direction of the Prime Minister, and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU. At the same time, thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the direction of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee on the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing in the province. In particular, promptly prevent and resolutely prevent fishing vessels and fishermen in the province from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters. Heads of local Party committees and authorities, heads of departments, branches and units directly lead and direct the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing and are responsible for the results of combating IUU fishing in their units and localities.

There needs to be a policy of job conversion, vocational training and livelihood support for fishermen.

At the same time, continue to promote information and communication on the efforts to combat IUU fishing in the country in general and in Binh Thuan province in particular. Propagate and disseminate legal regulations against IUU fishing to the fishing community and relevant organizations and individuals to raise awareness, consciousness and responsibility in fisheries activities, preventing and combating IUU fishing.

Check all registered and inspected fishing vessels.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shall coordinate with the Provincial Border Guard Command and the Department of Finance to review resources and funding for combating IUU fishing; ensure the arrangement of qualified and professionally qualified staff to participate in departments related to the management and control of fishing vessels and combating IUU fishing. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant departments, branches and localities to study mechanisms and policies issued by the Central Government, promptly advise the Provincial People's Committee on implementation, especially mechanisms and policies on job conversion, vocational training and livelihood support for fishermen who voluntarily do not participate in fishing activities or whose fishing vessels no longer meet the prescribed conditions. Strengthen the responsibility of district and commune authorities in managing fishing vessels with a maximum length of less than 12 meters, and submit to the Provincial People's Committee in the first quarter of 2024.

Direct the Department of Fisheries to continue to coordinate with localities to inspect and review all fishing vessels that have been registered and inspected but do not have or have expired fishing licenses, fishing vessels that have been transferred, bought and sold, sunk, or have not installed VMS equipment. Organize work and directly guide ship owners to carry out procedures for registration, inspection, issuance of fishing licenses, and deregistration according to regulations; ensure that 100% of fishing vessels are eligible for registration, inspection, licensing, and updating fishing vessel data in the National Fisheries Database (VNFISHBASE).

Ensure that 100% of export shipments to the EU market do not violate IUU.

In addition, strictly control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, and fishing vessels operating at sea in accordance with regulations; ensure that 100% of fishing vessels meet the conditions (registration, inspection, fishing license, VMS equipment operating...) before being allowed to operate. Monitor output, trace origin, confirm and certify the origin of aquatic products from exploitation in accordance with regulations, especially focusing on yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and swordfish; strictly prohibit and strictly handle cases of legalizing records of confirmation and certification of aquatic product origin; ensure that 100% of fishing vessels with a length of 15 meters or more unload exploited aquatic products at fishing ports; 100% of confirmation and certification records are in accordance with the provisions of law.

Direct the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Quality Management to coordinate with relevant agencies (police, fisheries inspectors, customs) to conduct a general review of seafood exporting enterprises in the province to ensure that 100% of documents of shipments exported to the EU market do not violate IUU; strictly handle violations.

In addition, direct the Fisheries Surveillance force to coordinate with the Border Guard force to strengthen law enforcement, strictly handle violations of regulations on IUU fishing; strictly and thoroughly handle according to the regulations on "3 no's" fishing vessels, fishing vessels that are not qualified to participate in fishing, fishing vessels that do not transfer names or change owners according to regulations; verify and punish 100% of cases of violations of regulations on losing VMS connection, exceeding permitted boundaries at sea.

Direct the People's Committees of coastal communes, wards and towns to review all fishing vessels in the management area to ensure a firm grasp of the current situation for close monitoring and management. Monitor and compile a list of fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters, especially fishing vessels that regularly operate and stay outside the province, fishing vessels showing signs of violating foreign waters, and send them to the authorities to coordinate with the provincial authorities to manage and strictly control, resolutely not allowing fishing vessels to violate foreign waters...

MINH VAN, PHOTO: N. LAN

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/giai-phap-cap-bach-trong-tam-chong-khai-thac-iuu-115384.html