The Government Office issued Notice No. 30/TB-VPCP dated January 25, 2025 on the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha at the 12th Conference of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).
Strive to remove the "Yellow Card" warning towards building a sustainable and effective fisheries industry.
The announcement stated: Since the 11th Conference of the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing, most ministries, branches and localities have focused on implementing the Prime Minister's direction in Official Dispatch No. 111/CD-TTg dated November 4, 2024; promptly reviewing and handling "03 no" fishing vessels and implementing the Secretariat's instructions in Directive No. 32-CT/TW, Resolution 52/NQ-CP of the Government and the instructions of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister - Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU. So far, there have been changes.
However, up to now, there are still some tasks that are slow to be overcome and not thoroughly handled, there are still 888 "03 no" fishing vessels, the extension and issuance of fishing licenses according to regulations are still slow, the results of verification and handling of violations of disconnection of fishing vessel monitoring devices (VMS), fishing vessels operating in the wrong area are still low compared to the detected cases; in some localities, the quality control of fishing logs is not guaranteed according to regulations (mainly memoirs, recorded on VMS).
The causes of the above situation are: (i) The legal corridor for managing activities related to exploitation and fishing has not kept up with reality, clearly defining the responsibilities of each level, each sector, agency and organization; management is still fragmented by territory, lacking an inter-local handling mechanism based on shared data; sanctions are not strong enough to prevent violations; lack of incentive mechanisms, promoting sustainable aquaculture development,... (ii) Databases and infrastructure serving fisheries exploitation management are slow to be deployed, especially databases, shared fisheries management software connecting population data, inter-sectoral, unified from central to local levels and updating data in real time, positioning connection systems, electronic diary declaration, chain management from fishing, import to purchasing, processing are slow to be built, (iii) Direction and implementation in some localities are not strict, especially violations of VMS disconnection, fishing vessels operating in the wrong area, fishing vessels of other localities violating in the locality under their management,... not promoting the role of the communal police force in grasping, controlling the coastal situation, preventing and handling violations.
To achieve the goal of removing the "Yellow Card" warning towards building a sustainable and effective fisheries industry, it is necessary to synchronously implement solutions based on: (i) Synchronous, transparent laws, clear responsibilities, clear authorities, strict and unified management; (ii) Interconnected and connected databases, modern management technology and inspection and supervision by management agencies to move from passive response to proactive control and protection of sustainable exploitation of aquatic resources.
Therefore, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that departments, ministries, branches and localities need to clearly define the responsibilities of each agency and individual; clearly assign tasks and specific completion times; urgently overcome current shortcomings and limitations; in which focus on implementing urgent and key tasks and solutions.
Specifically, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development focuses on assessing, reviewing, amending and supplementing fisheries laws (Fisheries Law 2017, Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP, Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP,...) to perfect the legal framework for managing activities related to exploitation and fishing according to fishing grounds, spawning seasons and sizes of exploited aquatic products; clearly defining the responsibilities of each agency and organization; having inter-local management measures to overcome the situation of fragmented management according to territory; supplementing sanctions to strictly handle violations by ship owners and captains; clearly defining the responsibilities of each management agency in inspecting, detecting, making records and sanctioning violations of disconnection and sending VMS devices; having strong enough sanctions to handle violations of fishing in other countries' waters; Fully supplement regulations on management, exploitation, use, updating data in fishing activities management, and handling violations. At the same time, it is necessary to review regulations and conditions for private fishing ports to participate in providing services for receiving fishing vessels, confirming the origin of seafood from exploitation; adding more choices for fishermen. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development submitted to the Government to issue a Decree according to simplified procedures in February 2025.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches, localities, information technology and telecommunications enterprises to focus on building a fisheries database, fisheries management software, and common, unified software nationwide; monitoring fishing vessel journeys, creating electronic diaries, fishing grounds, declaring aquatic product origins, fully managing related subjects such as fishermen, captains, fishing vessels, fishing logistics vessels, purchasing units, processing facilities/enterprises... integrating with population data, sharing, interconnecting between sectors and localities for management, exploitation, and updating in real time, serving the management of fishing activities of forces at sea, on land and providing public services. Complete and report the results to the Prime Minister in the first quarter of 2025.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinates with relevant agencies to inspect and ensure the quality of VMS devices and connection signals; operate, exploit and effectively use the database to handle acts of arbitrarily disconnecting VMS, ensuring the right people and actions are handled.
Organize interdisciplinary working groups to inspect the detection and record of acts of arbitrarily disconnecting VMS signals without imposing administrative penalties; clearly identify the causes and handle the responsibilities of related organizations and individuals.
Synthesize and submit to competent authorities for consideration investment projects, upgrade the fishing port system according to the plan; initially focus on key fishing ports, serving the fight against IUU fishing, to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. At the same time, review and announce private fishing ports that are qualified to be designated to confirm the origin of aquatic products from exploitation. Synchronously and effectively implement the Planning for Protection and Development of Aquatic Resources for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 to conserve ecosystems, protect aquatic resources, and sustainably develop the fisheries industry.
Strictly discipline the subordinate functional forces that cover up and assist in IUU fishing.
The Ministry of National Defense directed its functional forces to continue to carry out peak patrols and controls in sea areas bordering other countries; promptly prevent and handle fishing vessels showing signs of illegal fishing in foreign waters.
Prioritize the deployment of forces to coastal border posts and stations to strictly control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports; coordinate with local authorities to monitor and share data on fishing vessels entering and leaving ports to ensure data matching; resolutely and strictly discipline subordinate authorities who cover up and assist in IUU fishing.
The Ministry of Public Security directs and arranges the grassroots police force (commune/ward/town) along the coast to promptly grasp the situation; prevent and handle fishing vessels showing signs of illegal exploitation in foreign waters; organize the identification of fishing vessels, integrate into the national database on population; closely monitor and manage fishing vessels and citizens participating in fishing activities; supplement the responsibility of commune-level police in managing fishing vessel activities at the grassroots level.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall advise the Government on diplomatic plans and negotiate with relevant countries in exchanging and providing information on the arrest and handling of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen; complete and report to the Prime Minister in the first quarter of 2025; proactively coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to conduct diplomatic activities and seek the support of relevant parties to urge the EC to remove the "Yellow Card" warning.
The Ministry of Justice shall preside over and coordinate with ministries and branches to inspect the implementation of laws on handling administrative violations in the field of fisheries; handle or recommend competent authorities to strictly handle officials and civil servants who are irresponsible in performing their duties, and handle IUU fishing acts; focusing on the following key provinces: Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Thuan, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa..., to be completed in the second quarter of 2025.
Actively coordinate with ministries, branches and localities in guiding and removing difficulties and obstacles in law enforcement; guide localities in handling fishing vessels of other localities violating IUU fishing in their province; to be completed by February 2025.
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment continue to prioritize and allocate funding and capital sources according to regulations for ministries, sectors and localities to carry out the tasks of combating IUU fishing, removing the "Yellow Card" warning, investing in and upgrading fisheries infrastructure, and sustainably developing the fisheries sector.
Localities that have not completed handling of "3 no's" fishing vessels must complete the handling.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities to directly lead, direct the implementation and be responsible to the Prime Minister for completing the following tasks:
- Strictly control the regulations on ships entering and leaving ports, importing and exporting, and monitoring the output of local aquatic products; closely monitor and supervise private fishing ports and fishing wharves to ensure full implementation of regulations against IUU fishing; seriously and effectively implement the work of confirming and certifying the origin of exploited aquatic products, the electronic traceability system for exploited aquatic products (eCDT); strictly prohibit acts of harassment and annoyance to people and businesses; fully and seriously update the implementation results on the established software of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Localities that have not completed the handling of "03 no" fishing vessels must complete the handling; report the final results of the total number of fishing vessels in the locality in February 2025.
- Focus on implementing registration, inspection, granting of fishing licenses, marking of fishing vessels, granting of certificates of facilities meeting food safety conditions on fishing vessels, fully updating fishing vessel data into the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), to be completed by March 2025.
- Urgently review and handle violations of disconnection and transportation of VMS equipment from 2024 to present, fully update the results of sanctions on the database of administrative sanctions in the field of fisheries; investigate and handle cases of exceeding permitted boundaries at sea, illegal exploitation of seafood in foreign waters; organize public inspections, strictly handle officials and civil servants who do not verify and handle IUU fishing violations detected under their authority or do not transfer the records to competent authorities for handling; complete the report in April 2025.
- Review, prepare investment projects, upgrade and complete local fishing infrastructure, initially focusing on key fishing ports to combat IUU fishing, and submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in February 2025.
- Regularly inspect, check, and supervise; resolutely and strictly handle the responsibilities of organizations and individuals who do not fulfill their assigned duties and tasks, assist and condone IUU fishing, affecting the common efforts to remove the "Yellow Card" warning of the whole country. Prioritize the arrangement and mobilization of human resources, funding, and equipment for agencies and functional forces to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing, especially before, during, and after Tet.
- Strictly and fully implement the regime of reporting implementation results periodically before the 20th of each month (or ad hoc upon request) to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for monitoring, synthesis, and reporting to the Government and the Prime Minister according to regulations.
- The provinces of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Ba Ria - Vung Tau... urgently request the prosecution agencies to prosecute and try IUU fishing violations in accordance with regulations; widely disseminate information to deter and prevent violations.
Stabilizing prices and markets helps fishermen feel secure in production and avoid IUU violations.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Association of Seafood Processors and Exporters and seafood enterprises to strictly implement regulations against IUU fishing, especially in purchasing seafood of unknown origin; closely coordinate with competent authorities, investigate, verify, and strictly and thoroughly handle organizations, individuals, and seafood enterprises that conduct illegal business, legalize documents, assist, and condone IUU behavior.
Building a chain of links in purchasing, processing, and exporting exploited aquatic products associated with each fishing fleet and exploited aquatic products, ensuring stable prices and markets to help fishermen feel secure in production, not violating IUU for the sustainable development of the fisheries industry, for the benefit of the nation, people and people.
Vietnam Fisheries Association continues to accompany and actively encourage members to set good examples and properly implement regulations on preventing and combating IUU fishing; promptly encourage typical examples, good people and good deeds; promptly reflect and denounce IUU fishing violations.
Technology and telecommunications enterprises and VMS equipment suppliers must comply with regulations on ensuring service quality for fishing vessel monitoring infrastructure and VMS equipment; if they fail to ensure the quality of satellite services, data transmission lines, VMS equipment, etc., they must take responsibility and compensate for damages (if any) to people in accordance with legal regulations...
According to VGP News
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/huong-toi-xay-dung-nganh-thuy-san-ben-vung-238192.htm
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