Meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing...

The meeting was held in person and online with ministries, branches and 28 coastal localities.

According to the report at the conference, up to now, the whole country has basically overcome the contents according to the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) in the 4th inspection in October 2023. Through review and statistics, the total number of fishing vessels in the country is over 84,500; of which, the number of registered fishing vessels updated on the National Fisheries Database (VN-Fishbase) reached 98.9%; fishing vessels with a length of 15 m or more installed with a voyage monitoring device (VMS) reached 100%; the fleet of vessels with a length of 15 m or more with valid fishing licenses reached 90.3%; basically solving the "3 no" fishing vessels (no registration, no inspection, no license). The number of fishing vessels that are not qualified for fishing and fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing have been listed by localities, updated on the fishing vessel monitoring system and assigned to functional forces and local authorities to monitor and manage, and regularly update anchorage locations. The electronic traceability system for exploited aquatic products has been focused on, ensuring transparency and legality in confirming, certifying, and tracing the origin of exported exploited aquatic products. The inspection and control of imported exploited aquatic products from abroad has been fully implemented in accordance with international regulations and EC recommendations.

In 2024, localities prosecuted 39 criminal cases and brought 10 cases to public trial for the following crimes: Organizing illegal exit for others; fraudulent appropriation of property; obstructing or disrupting the operation of computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic means; forging seals and documents of agencies and organizations, legalizing records; related to the act of dismantling and sending VMS equipment; illegally manufacturing and using explosives... The total amount of fines for anti-IUU violations is nearly 100 billion VND.

Binh Dinh bridge point

Along with the whole country, in recent times, Binh Dinh province has drastically implemented measures to prevent and combat IUU fishing and achieved many positive results. To date, the whole province has 5,988 fishing vessels with a length of 6 meters or more registered. Of which, 3,190 fishing vessels with a length of 15 meters or more participating in fishing activities have installed voyage monitoring equipment, reaching a rate of 100%. The province has completed the registration of "3 no" fishing vessels in the area.

In particular, the province has strictly managed the group of fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters. Organized a review and made a list of 215 fishing vessels with a length of 12 meters to less than 15 meters, practicing squid fishing, regularly operating and entering and leaving ports in the southern provinces, and not returning to the locality every year. Along with that, signed the Regulation on coordination in managing fishing vessels with the southern provinces (Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Thuan) and the Regulation on coordination in managing fishing vessels with the group of 10 central provinces (from Thanh Hoa to Khanh Hoa). In 2024, the province established 05 working delegations with the southern provinces (Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Kien Giang), directly met, propagandized, and mobilized fishermen not to violate foreign waters; At the same time, a policy was issued to support funding for the purchase and installation of voyage monitoring equipment on fishing vessels with a length of 12 meters to less than 15 meters moving to fishing grounds in the southern provinces. Accordingly, 178/215 fishing vessels with a length of 12 meters to less than 15 meters have installed voyage monitoring equipment (accounting for 83%). From June 2024 to present, there have been no fishing vessels violating illegal exploitation in foreign waters.

In addition, Binh Dinh also strengthened inspection and control work and detected and strictly handled 126 cases of IUU fishing violations, with a fine of VND 11,493 billion.

Concluding the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that combating IUU fishing is the task of the entire political system; combating IUU fishing must be maintained in the long term, requiring many synchronous solutions and serious implementation. Central and local ministries, branches must clearly identify the limitations of each ministry, branch, and locality in order to promptly correct and overcome them; and must propose fundamental, specific, not general solutions.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that in the first quarter of 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development must complete the synchronous, unified, and interconnected connection from the central to local levels of the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), the Fishing Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and the Electronic Traceability System (eCDT); at the same time, promulgate procedures and regulations for management, operation, updating, exploitation, and use of fisheries management databases and the responsibilities of the parties.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reviews, proposes amendments and supplements to practical legal regulations on IUU violations; strictly handles acts related to security, national defense, and intentional violations of national territory; clearly defines the responsibility of state management agencies when failing to promptly handle or miss violations; as well as establishments purchasing, processing, and exporting aquatic products of unknown origin... In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development needs to review and supplement conditions for private fishing ports to provide a number of administrative services such as updating journey data, confirming the origin of exploited aquatic products for fishing vessels entering and leaving ports...

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and maritime law enforcement forces to actively cooperate with international forces and agencies to resolve incidents in accordance with the law./.

Source: https://binhdinh.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong-cua-lanh-dao/hop-ban-chi-dao-quoc-gia-ve-chong-khai-thiac-hai-san-bat-hop-phap-khong-bao-cao-va-khong-theo-quy-dinh.html