Prioritize resource allocation, focus on implementing measures to prevent, minimize and end the situation of fishing vessels violating foreign waters.

(Haiphong.gov.vn) – On the afternoon of February 5, in Kien Giang province, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU, chaired an online conference connecting with 28 coastal provinces and cities on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Attending the conference at the Hai Phong city bridge were Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Duc Tho, along with representatives of leaders of relevant Departments, branches, and People's Committees of districts.

Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Duc Tho and representatives of departments and branches attended at the Hai Phong city bridge.

After more than 6 years of combating IUU fishing, the European Commission (EC) has lifted the "Yellow Card" warning; through 04 inspections by the EC (the 4th in October 2023), although the Committees, ministries, branches and localities have actively implemented tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing under the direction of the Prime Minister and the direction of the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU to overcome shortcomings and limitations according to the EC's recommendations at the 4th inspection. However, up to now, some key and urgent tasks have not yet ensured progress according to the direction of the Prime Minister. Specifically, the situation of fishing vessels and fishermen violating illegal fishing in foreign waters is still happening, since the 4th inspection by the EC to date, 17 vessels/190 fishermen have continued to be arrested and handled by Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Since the beginning of 2023, 64 vessels/550 fishermen have been arrested and processed by foreign countries...; Fleet management has not been ensured according to regulations; monitoring and control of fishing vessel activities in some localities are not uniform; implementation of regulations on confirmation, certification and traceability is still limited; law enforcement and handling of IUU violations are still lacking in determination and uneven among localities...

Speaking at the Conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang requested ministries, branches and localities to focus on thoroughly resolving existing problems and limitations according to the EC's recommendations in the fourth inspection; resolutely deploy solutions to combat IUU fishing... At the same time, he requested provinces and cities to strictly handle fishing vessels that have lost connection to their journey monitoring devices and fishing vessels that have been detained and handled by foreign countries since the beginning of 2023. Localities need to prioritize arranging police and border guards... to focus on implementing measures to prevent, minimize and end the situation of fishing vessels violating foreign waters; strictly manage fishing vessel activities entering and leaving ports; take advantage of the time when fishermen return to shore for Tet, strengthen propaganda work widely and deeply, change fishermen's awareness of combating IUU fishing.

Hai Phong City currently has 966 vessels, of which 841 fishing vessels are eligible for fishing activities (updated on the VnFishbase system), 38 fishing vessels have been registered but are not eligible for fishing activities (no fishing license, voyage monitoring equipment, expired registration...), 87 fishing vessels with the longest length from 06m to under 12m participating in fishing activities but are not eligible for registration (3-zero vessels); the number of workers participating in fishing is about 4,815 people; fishing output according to the 2024 Plan: 124,000 tons; fishing output in January 2024 is estimated at 10,200 tons (equal to 102% compared to the same period in 2023)...

In recent times, localities have consolidated and established anti-illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing teams, assigned responsibilities to sectors and People's Committees of communes and wards to manage and supervise fishing vessels not participating in fishing activities; developed plans and implemented tasks and solutions to combat illegal fishing in the area. People's awareness of combating illegal fishing has been increasingly improved; fishermen have initially formed the habit of recording records, diaries, and fishing reports, turning on 24/7 journey monitoring when operating at sea and reporting to authorities when taking ships out of and out of ports according to regulations.

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