Authorised agencies inspect fishing boats in Ham Luong river of Ben Tre province (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen XuanCuong has issued directions guiding coastal localities in intensifying measuresto stop illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Accordingly,the People’s Committees of coastal provinces and cities must accelerate therecovery of Movimar satellite geo-positioning devices installed in fishingvessels with lengths of below 24 metres for installation in those of 24 metresand above. At the same time, they should push the prompt upgrade of GPS-integratedVX-1700 satellite communication equipment on both vessels and coastal stations,and impose strict punishment on those ships which fail to operate the monitoringequipment around the clock as required.
Authoritiesof coastal localities and relevant agencies must further tighten the monitoringof fishing vessels’ movement through ports along with vessels’ catches andfishing itineraries, and the verification and certification of seafood originin line with regulations. Strict fines must be imposed on violators of anti-IUUfishing regulations.
Localauthorities must hold patrols in waters under their management in order totimely detect and stop IUU fishing and prevent local vessels from illegalfishing in foreign waters.
Theminister also directs stronger communications work to popularise anti-IUUfishing rules across fishing ports and areas, and among fishermen. Heads oflocal administrations at all levels will be punished if they cannot stop localfishermen’s illegal seafood exploitation in foreign waters.
OnOctober 23, 2017, the EC issued a "yellow card" warning to Vietnam,after the country failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in the fight againstIUU fishing.
Aworking delegation of the European Commission (EC)’s Directorate-General forMaritime Affairs and Fisheries made a fact-finding trip to Vietnam late May toinspect the implementation of recommendations related to the fight against IUUfishing.
ECofficials will return to Vietnam in January 2019 to evaluate one more timebefore considering the removal of the “yellow card” on Vietnamese seafood.-VNA
VNA
