Ha Tinh resolutely participates in removing the European Commission's "Yellow Card" warning

The main objective of the plan is to strengthen coordination and promote the combined strength of all levels, sectors and people in combating IUU fishing, well prepare the contents to work with the 5th EC Inspection Delegation to contribute to the whole country in removing the EC's yellow card, promote sustainable fisheries development, ensure the long-term interests and livelihoods of fishermen, protect the reputation of the Vietnamese fisheries industry and the image of our country in international relations.

The plan also sets out 5 groups of contents that need to be focused on.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Linh inspected the work of combating IUU fishing at Thach Kim fishing port (December 3, 2024).

Fleet management and monitoring and control of fishing vessel activities

Urgently carry out registration for qualified fishing vessels, issue technical safety certificates for fishing vessels, issue exploitation licenses, and install VMS equipment according to regulations.

Organize a review and require all fishing vessel owners to draw registration numbers and mark their fishing vessels according to regulations.

Compile statistics and make a list of fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for operation, such as: not registered, not granted a certificate of technical safety of fishing vessels, not granted a fishing license and not installed VMS equipment and assign specific organizations and individuals of competent agencies, Party committees and local authorities to monitor and manage the location of fishing vessels anchoring, not keeping fishing gear and equipment for fishing on fishing vessels; competent agencies strictly inspect and control to ensure that they are not allowed to leave port to participate in activities.

Organize work, directly guide each ship owner on procedures for registration, inspection, issuance of fishing licenses, issuance of food safety certificates and update and match full information of fishing vessels on the National Fisheries Database (VNfishbase) and the Fishing Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to ensure timeliness, synchronization, accuracy and consistency.

Organize 24/7 VMS system shifts to monitor, supervise, detect and promptly notify fishing vessels violating VMS regulations (crossing the boundary, losing connection at sea for more than 06 hours without reporting location, losing connection at sea for more than 10 days without returning to shore) to competent authorities for handling according to regulations.

Ensure that 100% of fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more operating at sea must maintain connection to the VMS system; review information (vessel owner, location, operating status...) of each fishing vessel on the VMS system to ensure accurate and updated information (do not let a fishing vessel lose signal for many days at sea but do not know where the fishing vessel is or who is managing it).

Inspect and control 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports at coastal border posts/stations; inspect and control fishing vessels entering and leaving fishing ports in accordance with regulations to ensure that VMS equipment operates continuously 24/7 from the time the fishing vessel leaves the port until it arrives at the port; monitor and supervise 24/7 100% of fishing vessels operating at sea through the fishing vessel monitoring system.

Make a list of fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing and send it to the authorities and assign specific units and individuals to monitor and manage; post the list on the database on the fishing vessel monitoring system (VMS) so that law enforcement agencies can know, check and handle it according to the provisions of law.

Make a list of fishing vessels arriving at the port and compare it with the list of fishing vessels registered locally to identify and handle fishing vessels that do not enter the designated port to unload products according to regulations; make a list of fishing logistics service vessels arriving at the port and a list of fishing vessels that have transferred and sold products at sea to fishing logistics service vessels to review, inspect and handle violations if violations are detected.

Conduct inspection and supervision of fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, fishing logs, transfer logs, VMS data, data monitoring the unloading output through the port and store records in accordance with regulations, especially in cases where fishing vessels violate regulations, they must be thoroughly handled according to regulations.

Traceability of exploited aquatic products

- Carry out confirmation, certification and traceability of exploited aquatic products according to the instructions in Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BNNPTNT, Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BNNPTNT of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), ensuring that 100% of dossiers of export shipments to the European market (EU) and other markets requiring traceability of exploited aquatic products.

- 100% of fishing vessels with a length of 15 meters or more loading and unloading aquatic products exploited at fishing ports must be monitored and traced (ensuring fishing logs, VMS data, output and species composition appropriate to the fishing profession).

- Strictly implement regulations on confirmation and certification of exploited aquatic products, strictly prohibit and strictly handle cases of legalizing documents; especially focus on yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and swordfish.

- Continue to deploy the Electronic Seafood Traceability Software System (eCDT) for 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, monitor output as a basis for tracing origin, issuing certificates of origin of exploited seafood raw materials (SC certificates) and certificates of origin of exploited seafood (CC certificates) according to regulations; enter data completely and seriously on Googlesheet managed by the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control.

Law enforcement, handling violations

Review and handle violations of disconnection and transportation of VMS equipment from 2024 to present; investigate and handle cases of exceeding permitted boundaries at sea and illegal exploitation of seafood in foreign waters.

Resolutely prevent fishing vessels from leaving port without sufficient procedures, documents, and equipment as prescribed; absolutely do not allow unqualified fishing vessels to enter and exit ports, enter and exit ports to participate in seafood exploitation activities, leading to IUU fishing violations.

Regularly launch peak periods of law enforcement in patrolling and inspecting at sea, controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, at river mouths, seaports, spontaneous and traditional fishing ports; resolutely and strictly handle violations; especially illegal seafood exploitation and violations of VMS disconnection.

Timely prevent and not let fishing boats and fishermen of Ha Tinh illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters.

Investigate and handle 100% of cases of Ha Tinh fishing boats being captured by foreign countries, handle and punish 100% of cases of illegal fishing in foreign waters and report on mass media.

Investigate, consolidate records, prosecute, and try cases of brokerage and collusion to bring fishing boats and fishermen from Ha Tinh to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters to prevent and handle them to serve propaganda and deterrence work.

Update 100% of the results of sanctions for IUU fishing into the software system to monitor and manage administrative violation handling activities in the fisheries sector.

Communication campaign

Continue to implement the information and communication campaign throughout the province; promote information and propaganda work for sectors, levels, organizations and individuals on the Law on Fisheries and documents guiding the implementation of the Law, especially regulations on combating IUU fishing, Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP dated April 5, 2024 of the Government on administrative sanctions for violations in the field of fisheries and Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP dated April 12, 2024 of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court to warn, deter and prevent violations.

Diversify forms of propaganda, training, and dissemination to the fishing community and relevant organizations and individuals on regulations against IUU fishing in the province.

Some other tasks

Develop a plan to arrange staff to ensure the implementation of tasks related to combating IUU fishing for relevant units (Fisheries Surveillance Force, Fisheries Inspection and Control Representative Office) to meet the human resources to serve to overcome the European Commission's warning on combating IUU fishing.

Advise, propose, and report to the Provincial People's Committee on solutions for investment and completion of fisheries infrastructure and fishing vessel management information systems to serve the fight against IUU fishing.

Actively cooperate, exchange information and experience with provinces on combating IUU fishing; promptly grasp the situation, handle fishing vessels and fishermen of Ha Tinh illegally fishing in foreign waters.

Establish an inspection team to implement solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing) in localities, thereby promptly proposing to the Provincial People's Committee solutions for direction and management...

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/ha-tinh-quyet-liet-tham-gia-go-canh-bao-the-vang-cua-uy-ban-chau-au-post285166.html