Prime Minister requests to thoroughly handle "03 no" fishing boats

The Prime Minister requested ministries, branches, and localities to direct their law enforcement forces to launch a peak period to simultaneously deploy forces to patrol, inspect, control, and handle "3 No" fishing boats.

Fishing boats in Ca Mau waters. (Photo: Hong Dat/VNA)

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Official Dispatch No. 111/CD-TTg dated November 4, 2024 of the Prime Minister on focusing on implementing urgent tasks and solutions, focusing on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, preparing to welcome and work with the 5th Inspection Delegation of the European Commission.

Telegrams sent to the Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance, Planning and Investment, Information and Communications, Foreign Affairs, Public Security, National Defense; Chairmen of the People's Committees of 28 coastal provinces and centrally run cities and Chairmen of the Associations: Vietnam Fisheries, Vietnam Tuna, Seafood Processing and Export.

The telegram stated: After 7 years of combating IUU fishing, ministries, sectors and localities have made great efforts in implementing tasks and solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. However, there are still many goals and tasks that have not been achieved or are slow to be completed according to the direction of the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister and the EC's requirements related to the contents of registration, granting of fishing licenses, handling of "3 no's" fishing vessels; violations of regulations on installation, management and operation of fishing vessel monitoring equipment (VMS); in particular, the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen violating illegal fishing in foreign waters continues to be complicated.

In order to be determined to remove the "Yellow Card" warning at the 5th inspection by the EC, not to affect the development of the fisheries sector, the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities; especially to reduce the prestige, position and image of the country, the Prime Minister requested relevant departments, ministries, branches and localities to thoroughly organize, assign specific tasks, clearly define the responsibilities of each agency, unit, completion time, and achieved results to seriously and effectively implement the tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing in Directive No. 32-CT/TW of the Secretariat, Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP of the Government and the instructions of the Prime Minister, Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU. Attach responsibility to the heads of Party committees, Party organizations and authorities at all levels in performing the task of combating IUU fishing; timely encouragement, rewards and review, strictly handle cases of failure to fulfill assigned duties and tasks.

Proactively and promptly coordinate among ministries, branches, localities and forces in sharing information, combating, preventing and handling IUU fishing activities. Direct subordinate law enforcement forces in November to launch a peak period to simultaneously deploy forces to patrol, inspect, control and handle "3 no" fishing vessels, fishing vessels that are not qualified to participate in illegal fishing activities, fishing vessels that have been deregistered but are still operating... Completely handle "3 no" fishing vessels to be completed before November 20, 2024.

Officers and soldiers of Song Doc Border Guard Station (Ca Mau) propagate and mobilize fishermen in coastal areas to actively respond to the fight against IUU fishing. (Photo: Kim Ha/VNA)

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall preside over, with the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Science and Technology, review and complete regulations and standards on equipment and the installation of connection devices on fishing vessels to ensure quality and prevent acts of removing or turning off equipment to monitor fishing vessel journeys.

Preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches, and technology enterprises to continue investing in and upgrading the fisheries management information infrastructure, the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), the fishing vessel monitoring system (VMS), and apply information technology and artificial intelligence in analyzing, monitoring, supervising, and sanctioning IUU fishing behaviors...

The Ministry of National Defense directed the Navy, Border Guard, and Coast Guard forces to preside over and coordinate with Fisheries Surveillance and maritime law enforcement forces to continue to increase patrols, inspections, and controls in sea areas bordering countries where Vietnamese fishing vessels frequently violate illegal fishing regulations.

The Ministry of Public Security focuses on directing the police of all forces and the police of 28 coastal provinces and centrally run cities to control the situation of fishing vessels being bought, sold, and transferred without changing ownership, "3 no" fishing vessels, and other local fishing vessels and fishermen operating in the management area not in accordance with the law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs directs Vietnamese diplomatic missions in relevant countries to strengthen cooperation with host countries in sharing and exchanging information on the arrest and handling of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen, and promptly providing it to domestic authorities for investigation and handling in accordance with Vietnamese law. Promote bilateral cooperation in combating IUU fishing with countries that arrest and handle Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen; sign and establish hotlines between Vietnam and other countries to handle issues related to fishing vessels and fishermen of the two countries operating at sea.

In particular, the Chairmen of the People's Committees of 28 coastal provinces and centrally run cities directly lead and direct the tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing, and are responsible to the Prime Minister for the implementation results of their localities; urgently conduct a comprehensive review and classify the fleet, thoroughly handle "3 no's" fishing vessels, fishing vessels that have been bought, sold, transferred without changing their names or owners; fishing vessels that are still operating or no longer operating, have been deregistered, local fishing vessels operating in other provinces...; ensure a clear understanding of the current situation, strict management; fully update fishing vessel data into the national fisheries database; to be completed before November 20, 2024./.

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