After the fourth inspection on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing with the participation of the entire political system, the European Commission (EC) once again refused to remove the "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood.
During the 4th inspection (from October 10 to 18), the EC delegation worked directly with the two localities of Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Dinh. The EC delegation assessed that the localities had addressed the recommendations in the 3rd inspection, but the results were not really clear. The situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters still occurred; vessels losing connection to the journey monitoring device for 10 days was still common; "3 no" vessels (no inspection, no registration, no license) were still operating at sea; the rate of fines for Vietnamese fishing vessels violating regulations was still very low. Thereby, the EC also recommended that Vietnam must strictly handle the responsibilities of local organizations and individuals who did not fulfill their assigned duties and tasks. At the same time, strictly implement the provisions of the fisheries law, especially the provisions on journey monitoring devices, registration, licensing, and marking of fishing vessels to create changes in practice; resolutely punish IUU violations.
At the discussion session of the 6th session of the 15th National Assembly on the situation of IUU fishing, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang stated: The 4th EC inspection team assessed that Vietnam has been very active and has a strong policy, but the implementation has not been organized, the actual results in localities are still limited, the monitoring, control, supervision of fishing vessel activities, sanctions for IUU fishing violations, and sanctions against fraudulent enterprises are not strict. Therefore, the Deputy Prime Minister especially noted that it is expected that in May - June 2024, the EC team will return to Vietnam for another inspection. In the period from now to the middle of next year, if we do not seize this opportunity, we will face many disadvantages in the next 3 - 4 years. Because after that, the EC will change its term of office, organizational structure; there will be another committee, another personnel to carry out the work of handling IUU. At that time, Vietnam will be one of the countries that will reach a "record" level of taking about 10 years to remove the "yellow card" for IUU fishing violations.
According to statistics, the country currently has more than 16,000 "3 no" fishing vessels and this situation occurs in almost every locality with sea. In Binh Thuan, the number of unregistered fishing vessels is still 1,884 and the number of fishing vessels that have not been inspected or have expired inspections is still occurring. In addition, since the beginning of the year, the country has had 26 more fishing vessels with 166 fishermen arrested and processed by foreign countries in the sea areas of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. IUU fishing vessels are concentrated in the provinces of Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu, Tien Giang, Ca Mau and Kien Giang. If Vietnam still has fishing vessels fishing abroad, the EC will not remove the yellow card - this strong warning from the EC when applied to the reality of our country's offshore fishing industry is truly a difficult problem. However, the entire political system has taken drastic action, the number of violations has decreased year by year and hopefully, with the improvement of institutions and policies, creating livelihoods for fishermen in the coming time, promoting aquaculture, Vietnam will put an end to illegal fishing and exploitation of seafood.
In order for Vietnam to remove the "yellow card" in the last inspection of the previous term of the EC, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed that the leaders of coastal provinces and cities continue to closely direct, regularly, continuously and synchronously the solutions. Provinces with a system connected to VMS devices must be on duty 24/7 to promptly detect vessels that cross the border or lose connection. In particular, localities must take strong measures to prevent fishing vessels from illegally exploiting in foreign waters. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will promptly put into use the Electronic Traceability System, continue to organize inspection delegations, urge and propose measures to handle responsibilities for organizations and individuals who are still lacking responsibility in localities...
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