Strengthening the Party's leadership in combating IUU fishing and sustainable development of the fisheries sector

Attending the event were comrade Truong Thi Mai - Politburo member, Permanent member of the Secretariat, Head of the Central Organization Commission; Nguyen Trong Nghia - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Tran Luu Quang - Deputy Prime Minister, Le Minh Hoan - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Provincial leaders attend the conference at Quang Nam bridge. Photo: Q.VIET

Attending at the Quang Nam bridge were comrades Luong Nguyen Minh Triet - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Le Van Dung - Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and comrades in the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that in recent years, the fisheries sector has continued to develop, becoming a key economic sector, with a total annual output of over 9 million tons, contributing about 30% of the GDP of the agricultural sector; aquatic products are exported to 170 countries and territories, ranking third in the world; creating jobs for millions of workers, making an important contribution to socio-economic development and protecting the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

However, the development of Vietnam's fisheries industry is not sustainable, has not removed the European Commission's "yellow card" warning, and has not fully complied with regulations against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). The implementation of a comprehensive fleet management and monitoring system; updating the national fishing vessel database; tracing the origin of aquatic products; building a seafood production chain linking fishermen, businesses and the government; and handling violations are still limited.

Conference scene at Quang Nam bridge. Photo: Q.VIET

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said that ministries, branches and localities need to pay special attention to key tasks in implementing the action plan against IUU fishing, including encouraging the conversion of fishing to aquaculture; having mechanisms and policies for fisheries control and border guards to patrol and control at sea more effectively; investing in infrastructure; applying science, technology and digital transformation in fisheries; international cooperation; implementing commitments on the Law of the Sea; planning and having a strategy for sustainable development of seafood exploitation.

Removing the "yellow card" is an important, urgent task with long-term significance for the sustainable development of the fisheries industry. Photo: Q.VIET

Concluding the conference, comrade Truong Thi Mai emphasized that combating IUU fishing is an important, urgent task with long-term significance for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector; it is the responsibility of the entire political system and the whole society, first of all, the Party committees, Party organizations, leaders in the sector and localities who are directly responsible for leadership and direction, creating unity, synchronization, and high determination to achieve the goal of removing the "yellow card" in 2024 and maintaining sustainable results, contributing to socio-economic development; protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights over seas and islands; strengthening political and diplomatic relations and Vietnam's position internationally.

Ministries, branches and localities need to step up propaganda and dissemination of laws, raise awareness of Party committees, Party organizations, authorities, cadres, Party members, businesses and coastal and island fishing communities about sustainable development of the fisheries sector and combating IUU fishing. Focus on advocacy work, grasp the situation, promptly detect early, from afar, and prevent right from the shore fishing vessels and fishermen who intentionally violate, especially illegal fishing in foreign waters.

Focus on conserving, protecting and developing aquatic resources; developing the fisheries sector must be associated with ensuring social security, sustainable livelihoods, improving the material and spiritual lives of fishermen and related workers; building a national defense and security posture at sea, contributing to firmly protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. Along with that, it is necessary to have policies to sustainably develop the fisheries sector, contributing to the overall socio-economic development and enhancing the image and position of the country internationally.

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