BTO-This afternoon (October 7), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an online conference to promote solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, preparing to welcome and work with the 4th European Commission (EC) Inspection Delegation. The conference was connected online with the People's Committees of 28 coastal provinces and cities.
At the Binh Thuan bridge, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Doan Anh Dung and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai co-chaired, attended by members of the provincial IUU Steering Committee, representatives of a number of seafood exporting enterprises to the European market and leaders of coastal districts and towns at the local online meeting room.
After nearly 6 years of implementing solutions to combat IUU fishing, removing the EC's "Yellow Card" warning and through 3 field inspections by the EC Inspection Team, the results of implementing the task of combating IUU fishing have had many positive changes.
However, after the third inspection (in October 2022) by the EC, the implementation results of the EC's recommendations at the local level still have many shortcomings and limitations, have not met the requirements, and have not seriously implemented the instructions of the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU.
Continued violations of illegal fishing by local fishing vessels and fishermen in foreign waters. Law enforcement and sanctions against IUU fishing violations are not yet strict. Registration and licensing of fishing activities have not been completed. Slow implementation of handling of the EC's findings during the third inspection related to a number of imported fishing vessels, a number of seafood exporting enterprises and fishing ports confirming the origin of exploited seafood with signs of violating IUU regulations...
In Binh Thuan, in recent times, the province has made efforts to implement solutions to combat IUU fishing. In particular, closely monitor and supervise fishing vessels at high risk of violating foreign waters, preventing fishing vessels and fishermen from violating foreign waters. At the same time, organize reviews and strictly handle heads of agencies, units and localities that allow fishing vessels to violate foreign waters. Complete 100% of the installation of VMS equipment for operating fishing vessels, strictly control inactive fishing vessels that have not installed VMS... In particular, the Provincial People's Committee has seriously implemented the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, organized a peak period of general review, statistics, classification and screening of "3 no" fishing vessels to each village and commune in the province's coastal areas, and at the same time drastically implemented the registration, inspection and issuance of fishing licenses...
At the conference, representatives of ministries, departments and branches discussed and dissected the current shortcomings and limitations such as: the situation of fishermen deliberately violating foreign waters still occurs, there are even brokerage lines bringing fishing boats to fish illegally... Thereby, it is proposed to increase the level of punishment for this behavior, especially for captains, establish special projects to investigate, solve cases and implement model sentences to handle and deter these subjects. Leaders of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa and Binh Dinh provinces also quickly reported the results of the shortcomings that the EC delegation pointed out in the third inspection such as: 2 imported fishing boats violating IUU at Hai Vuong Company, export shipments violating IUU at 2 companies. Or the ship mechanical port violating IUU in issuing certificates of origin of exploited aquatic materials for 7 tons of swordfish...
Chairing the discussion session, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang emphasized: If Vietnam does not try to implement the tasks and solutions set out, it will have no chance to remove the "yellow card", and will even receive a "red card", at which time Vietnamese seafood will not be able to enter the European market and other markets.
Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that although all levels, sectors and localities have actively implemented tasks and solutions as well as firmly handled cases, IUU violations still occur. Accordingly, the Prime Minister proposed 5 key tasks, emphasizing the task of raising awareness and responsibility for fishermen, both promoting sustainable fishing and helping fishermen understand the work of protecting the ocean and protecting aquatic resources. At the same time, creating livelihoods and jobs for fishermen in the direction of increasing aquaculture and processing, reducing exploitation and offshore fishing. In addition, thoroughly resolving the EC's recommendations, not allowing new complicated cases to arise, and ending illegal fishing.
Thereby, the Prime Minister emphasized that the fight against IUU fishing is for the national interest, not to deal with the EC. In order to be determined to remove the "Yellow Card" warning at the 4th inspection of the EC (from October 10 to 18, 2023), not to affect the development of the fisheries industry and the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities, the Prime Minister requested ministries, sectors, and coastal localities to place the highest responsibility at the present time, seriously rectify, and focus on synchronously implementing tasks and solutions.
In particular, prepare documents and files carefully, work honestly, objectively and impartially to prepare to welcome and work with the EC Inspection Delegation on October 10. During the working process, take advantage of every opportunity to explain and demonstrate to the EC Inspection Delegation to understand and grasp the situation and conditions of the Vietnamese fisheries industry, the determination of the Government, and the efforts of relevant Vietnamese agencies in combating IUU fishing to serve as a basis for the EC Inspection Delegation to support the removal of the "Yellow Card" warning in this inspection.
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