On the afternoon of August 28, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The conference was connected online from the Government headquarters to 28 coastal provinces. Also attending the conference were Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, leaders of ministries, branches, central and local agencies.
Achieved many results recognized by EC
At the Conference, delegates focused on assessing the results of overcoming shortcomings and limitations according to the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) after 4 inspections; the results of implementing the instructions of the Government, the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU; shortcomings and limitations that have not been overcome, unfinished work; identifying key tasks in the coming time (the 5th inspection of the EC is expected to take place in October 2024).
Reports and opinions at the Conference unanimously assessed that after nearly a year since the 4th inspection by the EC (October 2023) and 7 years of implementing tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing and remove the EC's "Yellow Card" warning, Vietnam has achieved many results recognized by the EC, and many contents pointed out and requested by the EC have been overcome.
The Secretariat issued Directive No. 32-CT/TW (dated April 10, 2024) on strengthening the Party's leadership in combating IUU fishing. The Government issued Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP dated April 22, 2024 promulgating the Action Program and implementation plan of Directive No. 32 of the Secretariat.
The Prime Minister has given very strong direction, requiring relevant ministries, branches and localities to focus on leadership and direction to overcome shortcomings and limitations in the implementation of the task of combating IUU fishing, assigning specific tasks, completion time and results to each relevant ministry, branch and locality for implementation.
As a result, the implementation of the fight against IUU fishing has changed, achieving specific results. The legal framework has been completed according to the EC's recommendations. Fleet management, monitoring, control and supervision of fishing vessel activities have been strengthened. The implementation of regulations on traceability of exploited seafood since the 4th inspection has been reviewed and implemented more strictly than before. Law enforcement and handling of IUU fishing activities have achieved some important results, including 11 criminal cases prosecuted, and 3 cases with signs of violating criminal law are under investigation.
However, up to now, there are still many shortcomings, limitations, and slow completion of work related to fleet management, law enforcement, connection of fishing vessel monitoring equipment (VMS), and illegal exploitation violations.
Investigate, prosecute, indict and strictly try 100% of cases
In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh basically agreed with the reports and opinions on the achievements and shortcomings.
Analyzing in depth the causes of these shortcomings and limitations, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to handle the responsibilities of the heads of sectors, levels, agencies and localities if they do not strictly implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws on combating IUU fishing, lack determination in leadership, direction and operation, do not pay due attention, lack of inspection, supervision, etc.
Specifying the goal of removing the "Yellow Card" warning at the 5th inspection by the EC Inspection Delegation scheduled for October 2024, the Prime Minister also affirmed that the goal of combating IUU fishing and removing the yellow card has a full political, legal and practical basis.
The Prime Minister requested relevant ministries, branches, localities, functional forces, Party committees and authorities at all levels, especially at the grassroots level, to strongly promote the role and responsibility of leaders, patriotism, love for the people, unify awareness, focus on leadership, direction, and take drastic actions to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing, and promptly complete the overcoming of existing shortcomings and limitations, with three key tasks.
Firstly, closely monitor and manage fleets, prevent IUU violations and decisively handle fishing vessels with the 3 no's (no registration, no inspection, no license); secondly, review, classify and strictly handle groups and individuals who violate Party regulations and State laws; administrative violations will be handled administratively, criminal violations will be handled criminally; thirdly, step up inspection, examination, supervision, traceability and handling if there are violations.
Regarding specific tasks, the Prime Minister requested heads of relevant ministries, branches, central and local agencies to continue to thoroughly grasp, seriously, synchronously and resolutely implement the contents, tasks and instructions of the Secretariat in Directive No. 32-CT/TW, Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP of the Government; effectively implement, both propagate and mobilize, and thoroughly apply the provisions of Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP dated June 12, 2024 of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court on guiding the application of a number of provisions of the Penal Code on criminal prosecution for acts related to illegal exploitation, trading and transportation of aquatic products.
The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense shall preside over and coordinate with localities to investigate, prosecute, prosecute, and strictly try 100% of cases related to sending fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit in foreign waters; disconnecting, sending, and transporting VMS equipment, brokerage, connection, and other serious violations as prescribed in Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Standing Body of the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing) continues to organize working groups to inspect and supervise the implementation of regulations against IUU fishing; monitor, urge, guide and promptly report on the results of the implementation of the task of combating IUU fishing; advise and propose to the Government and the Prime Minister to strictly handle the responsibilities of relevant organizations, individuals and functional forces that do not fulfill their assigned duties and tasks, condone and assist IUU fishing; preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to develop and carefully prepare the program, plan and overall content of the work with the 5th EC Inspection Delegation; carefully prepare the best solutions to ensure that there is no passivity or surprise that affects the country's efforts to remove the "Yellow Card" warning.
The Ministry of National Defense continues to strengthen patrols, inspections, and controls in sea areas bordering other countries... to promptly prevent and handle fishing vessels showing signs of illegal fishing in foreign waters. Direct provincial border guards to seriously perform the task of controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving ports; resolutely and strictly discipline border posts and stations along the sea so that fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions for entering and leaving ports participate in fishing activities, and that affiliated functional forces condone and assist IUU fishing.
The Ministry of Public Security directs the police force to urgently investigate, prosecute and try organizations and individuals involved in brokerage, collusion to bring fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit in foreign waters; sending and transporting VMS equipment on other fishing vessels to violate illegal exploitation. Preside over and coordinate with relevant localities to continue investigating and strictly handle according to the law against organizations and individuals involved in the act of legalizing documents for export shipments to the European market discovered by the EC during the 4th inspection in October 2023.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs directs Vietnamese embassies in relevant countries to promptly collect information on the arrest and handling of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen by host countries for illegal fishing, and promptly provide information to domestic authorities for investigation and strict punishment according to regulations.
The Ministry of Justice shall urgently study and advise on supplementing the authority to sanction administrative violations in the field of fisheries for the Heads of Sub-Departments under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with the function of state management of fisheries or performing functions and tasks of fisheries control according to the provisions of law, complete and report to the Prime Minister in September 2024.
The Ministry of Information and Communications shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries, branches and localities to clarify responsibilities and strictly handle units providing VMS equipment and satellite services for VMS equipment on fishing vessels that do not comply with regulations; if due to the fault of the supplier, they must be responsible for compensating for damages (if any) to the people.
The Ministries of Finance and Planning and Investment continue to prioritize and allocate funding and capital sources according to regulations for ministries, branches and localities to carry out tasks of combating IUU fishing, removing the "Yellow Card" warning, and sustainably developing the fisheries sector.
Review all violations and resolutely punish them.
The Prime Minister requested the Secretaries and Chairmen of the People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally-run cities to directly lead, direct and ensure the completion of a number of tasks.
Accordingly, review all IUU fishing violations since the 4th inspection, focusing first on cases of disconnecting, sending, transporting VMS equipment, crossing maritime boundaries; brokerage, collusion, illegal fishing violations in foreign waters...; continue to investigate, verify, resolutely punish violations; complete and report implementation results in September 2024.
Concentrate maximum resources (human resources, funding, equipment, means), mobilize and strengthen local forces, especially local authorities (communes/wards/towns) in key areas, closely coordinate with border guards and police to both propagate and mobilize, and promptly prevent and handle early and remotely fishing boats and fishermen who intend to violate, especially in the provinces of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Binh Dinh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau...
Provinces that continue to allow local fishing vessels to illegally exploit in foreign waters must conduct serious reviews, clearly identify the responsibilities of heads of relevant agencies and functional forces; complete and report the results to the Prime Minister in September 2024.
Urgently complete the work of fleet management, registration, inspection, issuance of fishing licenses, marking of fishing vessels, issuance of certificates of facilities meeting food safety and hygiene conditions for fishing vessels, thoroughly handle "03 no" fishing vessels; handle the responsibilities of relevant organizations and individuals who are late in issuing fishing licenses to fishing vessels according to regulations.
Strictly control fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, monitor the output of exploited aquatic products; resolutely handle the responsibility of the Fishing Port Management Board, the Office of Fisheries Inspection and Control at the fishing port for fishing vessels violating IUU fishing entering and leaving the port, loading and unloading exploited aquatic products without verification and handling according to regulations.
Continue to review and strictly implement the work of confirming and certifying the origin of exploited aquatic products; resolutely handle criminal acts of legalizing documents for export shipments to the European market.
Regarding associations and enterprises, the Prime Minister requested the Association of Seafood Processors and Exporters and seafood enterprises to seriously implement regulations on combating IUU fishing; strictly prohibit the purchase, processing and export of seafood products originating from IUU fishing; strictly prohibit the act of colluding with relevant organizations and individuals to legalize documents for IUU fishing products for export to the European market; proactively coordinate closely with competent authorities in investigating, verifying and strictly and thoroughly handling organizations, individuals and seafood enterprises that do illegal business, legalize documents, assist and condone IUU acts.
Vietnam Fisheries Association continues to accompany and actively encourage members to set good examples and properly implement regulations on preventing and combating IUU fishing; promptly encourage typical examples, good people and good deeds; promptly reflect and denounce IUU fishing violations.
The Prime Minister also noted that, along with strictly implementing the Party's regulations and the State's laws, it is necessary to promote care and support for jobs and sustainable livelihoods for people, such as switching from fishing to aquaculture...; at the same time, propagandize and mobilize people to raise awareness, fulfill their responsibilities to the country, homeland and themselves, avoid forgetting long-term interests for immediate benefits, avoid forgetting the common interests for personal and local interests, resolutely handling violations and combating illegal fishing is for the benefit of fishermen and the country. Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, central and local press and media agencies should participate more strongly in strengthening propaganda and mobilizing people.
Ministries, sectors, localities and relevant agencies carefully prepare the program, content and working plan with the 5th EC Inspection Delegation; carefully prepare the best options, not to be passive or surprised, affecting the efforts to remove the "Yellow Card" warning of the whole country; ensure the best results in welcoming and working with the inspection delegation, and soon remove the "Yellow Card" IUU.
“If any locality does not make any changes in implementing the task of combating IUU fishing in the coming time, continues to commit violations, and fails to complete assigned tasks, the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, the City Party Committee, and the Chairman of the People's Committee of the provinces and centrally-run cities must be responsible before the Secretariat, the Government, and the Prime Minister according to the direction in Directive No. 32-CT/TW of the Secretariat and Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP of the Government,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs Government Conference with localities on economic growth](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/21/f34583484f2643a2a2b72168a0d64baa)
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