Strengthening international cooperation to combat IUU fishing

DNO - On the morning of April 23, in Da Nang, the US Embassy, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, the US Department of State, in coordination with the Fisheries Surveillance Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) organized a regional workshop on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong delivered the opening speech at the Regional Workshop on Combating IUU Fishing on the morning of April 23. Photo: VAN HOANG

The workshop took place from April 23 to 25 with the participation of more than 70 delegates and international experts in the field of fisheries law enforcement from 12 countries: the United States, Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong said that Vietnam clearly identified sustainable fisheries development as the core to solving the problem of IUU fishing. The Vietnamese fisheries sector builds and synchronously implements strategies and projects for sustainable and responsible development.

Some notable results include: achieving high consensus and drastic actions, consensus of the whole society in implementing legal regulations, regulations on combating IUU fishing; building a comprehensive legal framework on responsible fisheries management and combating IUU fishing according to international standards.

Fishing vessel management has many positive changes such as: building and operating the National Database on fishing vessels, connecting from the central to local levels; over 97.65% (28,797/29,8489) of fishing vessels operating in offshore areas (with a length of 15m or more) are installed with VMS voyage monitoring equipment.

The issue of seafood traceability is implemented and controlled along the chain, from controlling output through ports to issuing export certificates and controlling raw materials at processing plants.

Building a national database on administrative sanctions in the fisheries sector from central to local levels, creating aggregated data to serve law enforcement.

The workshop was attended by more than 70 delegates and international experts in the field of fisheries law enforcement from 12 countries. Photo: VAN HOANG

According to Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong, combating IUU fishing requires the joint efforts of the international community, especially close cooperation between law enforcement forces in the region.

The 3rd Regional Workshop on Combating IUU Fishing is a forum to enhance cooperation among member countries in the region, creating a platform for networking with experts as well as fisheries law enforcement agencies in the region and internationally.

This is an opportunity for law enforcement forces to share challenges and practical experiences in combating IUU fishing, especially to strengthen bilateral cooperation in fisheries law enforcement.

At the workshop, delegates focused on exchanging and sharing updates on global trends in the fight against IUU; challenges in fisheries in the region; initiatives to enhance cooperation and information sharing; an overview of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and tools for monitoring, controlling and supervising fishing vessels (MCS); and experiences in handling domestic and international IUU violations through simulated case studies.

VAN HOANG

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