The 5th time will be the decisive moment to remove the "yellow card"

In early February 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Head of the National Steering Committee on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), chaired the 9th meeting of the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing.

Prepare thoroughly for the 5th inspection

At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the efforts of central and local ministries, branches and sectors in implementing tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing, overcoming shortcomings and limitations pointed out by the 4th Inspection Delegation of the European Commission (EC). At the same time, he highly appreciated and commended Kien Giang province as the first province to conduct a trial of the case of brokerage and collusion to bring fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit in foreign waters, ensuring the strictness of the law. However, in general, up to now, in some localities, there are still many shortcomings and limitations that are slow to overcome, not ensuring progress according to the direction of the Prime Minister, Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU, such as: the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen illegally exploiting in foreign waters continues to occur, with complicated developments; the control, confirmation, certification and traceability of exploited aquatic products are not effective; the management and control of "3 no" fishing vessels have not been achieved. In addition, local authorities and functional forces have not fully performed their duties and responsibilities in investigating, verifying and sanctioning IUU fishing acts such as illegal fishing in foreign waters, disconnecting or sending and transporting illegal VMS equipment, violating fishing logs, fishing vessels operating in the wrong areas, etc., leading to very limited results, lack of consistency between localities, and failure to ensure the strictness of the law. It is expected that in April 2024, the EC will conduct the 5th inspection, which is the decisive time to remove the "yellow card" warning. Therefore, it is required that the Ministers, Heads of relevant ministries, agencies and Chairmen of the People's Committees of 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities focus on leading and directing the resolution of current shortcomings and limitations.

The EC is expected to conduct the fifth inspection in April 2024.

According to the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, recently, all 28 coastal provinces and cities have stepped up the punishment of IUU fishing violations. For example, Nghe An province administratively fined Mr. Nguyen Van Thuong, captain of fishing boat NA-95079-TS; Mr. Ngo Van Chinh, captain of fishing boat NA-95177-TS, each 20 million VND and revoked the right to use the fishing boat certificate for 3 months for disabling the journey monitoring device during operations at sea. Nghe An province also issued a decision to administratively fine Mr. Tran Van Nhat, captain of fishing boat NA-99995-TS, 24 million VND for failing to comply with regulations in case the journey monitoring device of the fishing boat was damaged, and failing to comply with the inspection and control of the competent authority for the means prescribed by law.

Localities take strong measures to punish IUU.

Strongly punish IUU violations

Binh Thuan has issued a decision to administratively sanction Ms. Tran Thi Thong, owner of a fishing boat in Ward 8, Phuoc Hoi Ward, La Gi Town, with a fine of VND 900 million for fishing in national waters or other territories without a license or approval. Ms. Thong is the owner of fishing boat BTh 97352, which was discovered and arrested by Malaysian authorities while fishing in an area belonging to Malaysian waters on January 7, 2023. Previously, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Thuan Province also issued a decision to fine Mr. Tran Thanh Muoi, residing in Ward 8, Phuoc Hoi Ward, La Gi Town, VND 900 million for a similar violation. Mr. Muoi is the owner of fishing boat BTh 95204 TS, which illegally fished in Malaysian waters on January 7, 2023 and was arrested by Malaysian authorities.

Strengthen control and registration of "3 no" ships.

The Deputy Prime Minister especially appreciated Kien Giang province for doing many things with positive spillover effects, becoming the first locality in the country to prosecute and try a case related to brokerage and collusion to bring fishing boats and fishermen to illegally exploit in foreign waters. The People's Court of Kien Giang province sentenced 4 defendants living in Kien Giang province for organizing illegal exit for others, from 1 to 8 years in prison. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that there is very little time left, about 2 months until the EC sends an inspection team to Vietnam, so we must concentrate all our efforts, launch "the peak of the peak" with the highest goal of removing the yellow card after the upcoming 5th inspection.

In addition to the above-mentioned immediate tasks, the Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized the need for fundamental, long-term solutions to develop a sustainable and responsible fisheries sector, such as cooperating with other countries in fisheries, opening up new directions for fishermen; attracting foreign investment in aquaculture and seafood processing. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development needs to develop a sustainable fisheries exploitation plan, taking into account the possibility of banning fishing to protect and restore fishing grounds and support fishermen when implementing bans. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that upcoming propaganda work must be fundamental, methodical, from many perspectives, not only encouraging but also focusing on propaganda about the legal consequences for each IUU violation.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/chong-khai-thac-iuu-lan-thu-5-se-la-thoi-diem-quyet-dinh-de-go-the-vang-117145.html