Deploying urgent tasks and solutions to remove the IUU "yellow card"

The Government Office has just announced the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang at the 8th meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

According to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the 4th inspection by the Inspection Delegation of the European Commission (EC) in October 2023, the results of the implementation of the work to combat IUU fishing have improved compared to before, but the existing problems and limitations have not been completely resolved, so the "yellow card" warning has not been removed.

Implement strategic, long-term, urgent, and focused solutions

In recent times, the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU have issued many directive documents, assigning specific responsibilities to each department, ministry, sector, and locality with completion time and results achieved. Although certain results have been achieved, the direction and implementation of solutions to combat IUU fishing in some ministries, sectors, and localities have not been really focused, drastic, and effective.

Therefore, in order to soon remove the "yellow card" warning, develop Vietnam's fisheries industry sustainably, responsibly and internationally, it is required that Ministers, Heads of ministries, relevant agencies and Chairmen of People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run cities, in addition to continuing to effectively implement strategic and long-term solutions, focus on directing and implementing urgent and key tasks and solutions from now until April 30, 2024 as follows:

Requesting ministries, branches, sectors, People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run cities to focus on mobilizing resources to synchronously deploy tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing in accordance with the direction of the Standing Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister (especially Official Dispatch No. 1058/CD-TTg dated November 4, 2023), the conclusions of the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU and other relevant documents; absolutely not to be negligent or subjective; resolutely handle organizations and individuals who do not fulfill their assigned duties and tasks in performing their official duties, violate the provisions of the law, affecting the common efforts to remove the "yellow card" of the whole country; promptly encourage, reward and motivate typical examples in combating IUU fishing.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has performed well the standing role of the National Steering Committee on IUU; increased inspection, guidance and urging of coastal localities to implement the EC's regulations and recommendations on combating IUU fishing.

Closely coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in providing and sharing information to ensure good diplomatic work, gain support from relevant parties for efforts to combat IUU fishing, and remove Vietnam's "yellow card" warning.

Policy - Deploying urgent tasks and solutions to remove the IUU — The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has increased inspection, guidance, and urging coastal localities to implement EC regulations and recommendations on combating IUU fishing. (Photo: Huu Thang).

Preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice to urgently review and complete the amended and supplemented Decrees (Decree No. 26/ND-CP, Decree No. 42/ND-CP of the Government), submit to the Prime Minister before December 30, 2023; issue a Circular amending and supplementing Circular No. 23/2018/TT-BNNPTNT before January 30, 2024 to remove difficulties in the management of "3 no" fishing vessels; proactively review and resolve difficulties, obstacles, make recommendations and guide localities to effectively and substantially implement these contents.

Promote the application of information technology, urgently complete the national fisheries database (VnFishbase); complete and deploy synchronously and uniformly nationwide the software for managing fishing vessels entering and leaving ports to monitor and control the activities of fishing vessels at fishing ports, and the electronic traceability system to monitor and control the transparency and legality of the origin of domestically exploited aquatic products for export.

Soon send an official letter to the EC regarding the verification of information related to the Havuco02 ship under the management of Khanh Hoa province.

Handling of illegal brokerage and exploitation activities

The Ministry of National Defense shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run cities, and relevant ministries and branches to carry out a peak patrol period, deploy appropriate solutions, resolutely prevent, minimize, and eventually end the situation of fishing vessels violating IUU fishing in foreign waters (from now until April 30, 2024).

Timely provide information, coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fight against countries that illegally arrest and handle Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen, carry out diplomatic work well, gain support from relevant parties for efforts to combat IUU fishing, and remove Vietnam's "yellow card" warning.

The Ministry of Public Security shall promote and closely coordinate with the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court to review and reach consensus to promptly issue a Resolution guiding the application of Articles 347, 348, 349, and 350 of the Penal Code in handling the act of brokering the sending of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters, complete and report the results to the Prime Minister and Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU before December 30, 2023.

Direct local police to prioritize the deployment of forces to carry out peak periods from now until April 30, 2024 in investigating, preventing, and handling acts of brokerage and collusion in bringing fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood; coordinate with competent authorities to prosecute and try violations to deter and educate before April 30, 2024.

Coordinate with localities to investigate and thoroughly handle organizations and individuals who "legalize" violation records to export to the European market according to EC recommendations, complete and report to the Prime Minister and Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU before April 30, 2024.

Chairmen of People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run cities shall urgently review records, issue decisions to definitively sanction violations within the time limit and statute of limitations, complete and report the results to the Prime Minister and Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU before April 30, 2024.

Direct and prioritize the arrangement of forces, assign responsibility to local authorities (commune/ward/town) in key areas to both propagate and mobilize, and firmly grasp the area, promptly detect early from afar, and prevent right from the shore fishing boats and fishermen intending to illegally exploit in foreign waters.

Urgently establish local fisheries inspectors in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries Law and the Law on Organization of Local Government, ensuring sufficient capacity to perform state management tasks on exploitation and protection of aquatic resources .

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