Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has just chaired a conference to evaluate the results of the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, preparing to welcome and work with the 5th Inspection Delegation of the European Commission (EC); determined to remove the EC's IUU "yellow card".
Reports and discussions at the conference showed that, in addition to the results achieved in recent times, there are still some localities that are not really determined in enforcing the law against IUU fishing. Some organizations and individuals even loosen management, tolerate fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, entering and leaving ports without ensuring procedures and equipment according to regulations; lack of determination in preventing and handling IUU fishing acts...
The question is whether Thanh Hoa province is among them, how are Thanh Hoa fishermen aware and acting in response to the requirement to remove the "yellow card" as soon as possible as requested by the Government and the Prime Minister. The answer is that in the first 6 months of 2024, the Provincial Steering Committee on IUU organized 4 inspections on combating IUU fishing in coastal localities and fishing ports, and recorded 65 violations with a total fine of 884.9 million VND. That shows that despite the regulations and recommendations, including strong measures that have been implemented in the past, there are still many owners of vessels and people working at sea who violate. And that also shows that the actions of fishermen can only change when their awareness changes, knowing how to put national interests first. To do so, there must be stronger measures to both deter and educate. Along with that, local authorities and authorities must also increase their responsibility in combating IUU fishing.
Speaking at an important and pivotal conference to remove the IUU “yellow card” in October, the Prime Minister requested to concentrate resources to prevent and end the situation of fishing vessels violating illegal exploitation in foreign waters. In particular, the police and border guards should be strengthened to coordinate with local authorities in key areas to propagate and mobilize, promptly detect and prevent early and from a distance fishing vessels and fishermen intending to illegally exploit in foreign waters.
With the requirement for unified action from the Central Government to each locality with sea, it requires the local government and functional forces to be more drastic, to have more measures to grasp the situation, prevent and promptly handle fishing vessels with signs of illegal exploitation in foreign waters even before the vessels leave port. In particular, it is necessary to resolutely and strictly discipline the coastal border posts and stations so that fishing vessels are not qualified to enter or exit port to participate in fishing activities, as well as the functional forces under their control that condone and assist IUU fishing.
The benefits of removing the IUU “yellow card” are very clear. But to realize those benefits, it cannot be just a general action, shouting slogans, all the Prime Minister’s requests must be quantified and the actions must be truly strict and drastic.
Thai Minh
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tang-bien-phap-manh-go-the-vang-iuu-223361.htm
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