Prime Minister requests to focus on implementing tasks and solutions to combat illegal fishing

SGGPO 10/04/2023 17:28

On October 4, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed Official Dispatch No. 916/CD-TTg of the Prime Minister on focusing on implementing urgent tasks and solutions, focusing on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and preparing to welcome and work with the 4th inspection delegation of the European Commission (EC).

Prime Minister requests to focus on implementing tasks and solutions to combat illegal fishing

The dispatch stated that after nearly 6 years of implementing solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, removing the EC's "yellow card" warning, and through 3 field inspections by the EC inspection team, the results of the implementation of 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, not meeting requirements, and not seriously implementing the instructions of the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU.

If the current situation of IUU fishing violations is not resolved promptly, not only will the "yellow card" warning not be removed, but the risk of being warned of a "red card" is very high. The main responsibility lies with the heads of authorities at all levels, departments, branches, sectors and functional forces at the local level who have not fulfilled their assigned duties and responsibilities in leadership, direction and organization of implementation according to the direction of the Standing Secretariat, the Government and the Prime Minister.

In order to be determined to remove the "yellow card" warning at the 4th inspection by the EC (from October 10 to October 18, 2023), not to affect the development of the fisheries industry, 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 place the highest responsibility at the present time, seriously rectify, focus on synchronously implementing assigned tasks and solutions.

The Prime Minister requested that from now until the fourth EC inspection team visits Vietnam for a field inspection, departments, ministries, branches and localities need to focus resources and thoroughly handle key and urgent issues such as: ensuring resources and funding to promptly complete the correction of existing shortcomings and limitations; preparing the best content and conditions to welcome and work with the fourth EC inspection team; absolutely not being negligent, subjective, or indulgent; resolutely and strictly handling organizations and individuals who, for their own benefit, deliberately commit illegal acts that affect the national and ethnic interests and the country's image in the international arena.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to organize working groups to inspect, urge and guide localities in carrying out the task of combating IUU fishing. The Ministry of National Defense continues to take strong measures to resolutely prevent the recurrence of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen violating illegal fishing in foreign waters; strengthen functional forces, coordinate with local authorities to grasp key areas and subjects at high risk of violations, monitor, intercept from shore and patrol, inspect and control in sea areas bordering other countries, at islands, river mouths, and inlets, thoroughly handling subjects participating in fishing that do not comply with legal regulations; review and consolidate the entire list and data files on penalties for fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters; coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to unify data on Vietnamese fishing vessels arrested and handled by foreign countries, especially data on fishing vessels violating foreign waters...

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Public Security to ensure safety and security before, during and after the EC inspection team's visit to Vietnam. The Ministry of Transport directed designated seaports to coordinate with relevant authorities to carefully prepare documents for controlling aquatic products exploited by foreign vessels arriving at ports according to regulations.

The Prime Minister also assigned the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities to focus on leading and directing the proper implementation of legal regulations in the management of fishing vessels, registration, inspection, granting of fishing licenses, tracing the origin of exploited aquatic products and enforcing the law, handling violations; ensuring the total number of fishing vessels in the locality; clearly understanding and updating the daily status of fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more that are not eligible to participate in fishing activities (where the vessel is anchored, the status of the vessel, etc.); directing the border guard force to inspect and control 100% of the province's fishing vessels and fishing vessels from other provinces to ensure that they fully meet the prescribed conditions, especially the VMS device (a device that provides information on the location, tracks and some activities of vessels) on fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more must be turned on and operate normally from the time they leave the port until they arrive at the port; Investigate, verify, and thoroughly handle violations of VMS, focusing on handling 100% of fishing vessels 24m or longer in length that violate...

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