Lesson 3: What did Binh Thuan gain after a 6-year journey to remove the "yellow card"?
BTO - Immediately after the EC issued the IUU "yellow card" warning, the Government, ministries, departments and branches immediately took action. In Binh Thuan, in 2018, the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee issued Directive No. 30 on urgent tasks and solutions to strengthen management, prevent and end the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen in the province illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters. Since that Directive, the Binh Thuan seafood industry has had positive changes, although not yet sustainable, but showing the high determination of the entire political system.
Resolute from 1 directive
In the spirit of Directive No. 30, Party committees and authorities at all levels have given drastic instructions, and the entire political system has joined hands to implement many related tasks. Looking back at the more than 5 years of implementing Directive No. 30 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen in the province violating foreign waters has gradually decreased over the years. Especially in nearly 2 years (from July 2019 to June 2021), Binh Thuan had no fishing vessels or fishermen violating foreign waters. However, this situation is still at high risk. But it can be said that this is a new and important step, demonstrating the province's determination in its efforts to combat IUU fishing. Not only that, fishermen have raised awareness, seen more clearly the harm and consequences of illegal fishing in foreign waters.
In Decision 81/QD-TTg dated March 13, 2023 of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on combating IUU fishing, it is clearly stated: It is necessary to synchronously, effectively and efficiently implement fisheries laws; overcome shortcomings and limitations according to the EC's recommendations on combating IUU fishing. Unify awareness, action and participation of the entire political system in the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing. In particular, heads of Party committees, Party organizations and authorities at all levels directly lead, direct and take responsibility for the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing, considering this a political, priority and urgent task, focusing resources on implementation, determined to remove the "Yellow Card" warning in 2023...
With that spirit, the Provincial Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing has held regular meetings, issued many documents, specific plans and proposed many "both firm and soft" solutions, both widely propagating to each fishing boat owner and completing the 4 groups of recommendations of the EC. Especially from May to now, the whole province has continuously organized peak periods to carry out key and urgent tasks to combat IUU fishing, to prepare to work with the EC Inspection Delegation to inspect Vietnam for the 4th time.
After nearly 6 years of joining hands to remove the IUU "yellow card", Binh Thuan has gradually reduced the number of fishing vessels and fishing force, is one of the few provinces and cities that have completed 100% of the installation of VMS equipment for operating fishing vessels and promoted the fishing vessel monitoring system to monitor and warn fishing vessels that have crossed Vietnam's maritime boundaries. The work of controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, monitoring the output of aquatic products exploited through ports, and tracing the origin of exploited aquatic products has improved. In addition, the province has conducted a general review and statistics of existing fishing vessels and increased the rate of registered fishing vessels, granted fishing licenses, and inspected. Strengthened law enforcement, strictly handled violations of IUU fishing...
However, it must be recognized that the province's work in preventing and combating IUU fishing has improved but is not sustainable. In early 2023, Binh Thuan still had a case of a fishing boat in Tan Xuan commune - Ham Tan district violating foreign waters. Therefore, Binh Thuan and 3 other provinces, Kien Giang, Binh Dinh and Khanh Hoa, were criticized by the Prime Minister. Strictly following the direction of the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested to organize a review of the responsibilities of individuals and units related to the above incident. Accordingly, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested to organize a review of the responsibilities of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Tan Xuan commune; Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ham Tan district; Chairman and Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ham Tan district in charge of combating IUU fishing; Commander and Deputy Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Command in charge of combating IUU fishing; Head of the Border Guard Station in charge of the area where the fishing boat violated; Director and Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; The Director and Deputy Director of the Fisheries Department are responsible for combating IUU fishing. For the Party Secretary, Chairman of the Farmers' Association, Chairman of the Women's Union of Tan Xuan commune, Chairman of the Farmers' Association, Chairman of the Women's Union of Ham Tan district, local Party committees and superior mass organizations direct the review of responsibilities in accordance with the conclusions and directions of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee in Notice No. 154-TB/TU dated April 3, 2018.
Important "test" in October
According to Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Hoai Anh, clearly aware of the viewpoints, goals and responsibilities of the entire political system stated in Decision No. 81 of the Prime Minister, heads of Party committees, Party organizations, authorities at all levels and relevant agencies must directly lead, direct and take responsibility for the work of preventing and combating IUU fishing. And identify this as a political, priority and urgent task to focus resources on implementation.
Binh Thuan, as well as 28 coastal provinces and cities, have made great efforts so that this October, Vietnam will hopefully "reap sweet fruits", ensuring that Vietnamese seafood continues to be exported to the European market. Therefore, recently, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee has continuously issued official dispatches requesting Party committees, Party organizations, Provincial Party Committee committees, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations of the province to continue to thoroughly grasp and synchronously and drastically implement the task of preventing and combating IUU fishing. Propose that the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee lead the Provincial People's Committee to develop and deploy a master plan to prevent and combat IUU fishing, especially the tasks from now until the end of 2023. In particular, the pioneering and most important requirement is to focus on drastically and synchronously implementing solutions to prevent and stop the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen of the province illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters. Direct functional forces (Border Guard, Police, Fisheries Surveillance) and People's Committees of districts, towns and cities to grasp the area, make a list of fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters to closely inspect and monitor at shore and when operating at sea.
At the same time, review the Coordination Regulations between Binh Thuan province and relevant localities and with law enforcement forces at sea to strictly control the province's fishing vessels operating outside the province and offshore fishing activities. Direct the functional forces to investigate, compile records to resolutely and thoroughly handle cases of fishing vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters according to the law, publicize the list for deterrence and education... In particular, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee also requested to inspect, supervise the implementation of public duties and tasks to prevent IUU fishing, promptly correct irresponsible behaviors, lack of determination in handling violations...
We believe that, with the efforts of the entire political system and the tasks and solutions that have been regularly implemented since Directive No. 30 of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee up to now; as well as the consensus and strict compliance of fishermen, the situation of illegal fishing vessels will soon be ended as expected. At that time, for Binh Thuan, the "yellow card" will no longer be a bottleneck, but a driving force to gradually build a responsible and sustainable fishing industry.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said that the EC inspection team in October 2023 will be the last inspection team of the current European term. Therefore, without high determination and great efforts, it may take 2-3 years for Vietnam to have the opportunity to remove the IUU "yellow card".
Lesson 1: “Theft” at sea, unintentional or intentional?
Lesson 3: What did Binh Thuan gain after a 6-year journey to remove the "yellow card"?
MINH VAN, PHOTO: N. LAN
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