Vietnam's fishing vessels (Photo: VNA) In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency,Tien admitted the fact that there remain a small number of Vietnamese-flaggedfishing vessels still illegally fishing in foreign waters.
To put an end to this phenomenon, the heads of local Partycommittees and authorities at all levels should uphold the sense ofresponsibility in leading and directing the combat against illegal, unreportedand unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Localities should quickly calculate the number of fishingvessels, complete the issuance of licenses as well as the installationof monitoring equipment, and the update of vessel data into theNational Fisheries Database (Vnfishbase) as regulated to meet the requirementof information search and boat management.
Meanwhile, fishing ports should make statistics of all dockingplaces; monitor and supervise all catches to ensure traceability; strictlyhandle vessels that do not dock at designated ports, said Tien.
He also stressed the importance of stepping upcommunications to raise public awareness of respecting law, and request seafoodenterprises to resolutely refuse to purchase, process and export products coming from IUU fishing.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien (Photo: VNA) At the same time, efforts will be made to investigate andprosecute any cases of brokering and luring fishermen to conduct illegalfishing in the foreign waters.
In October 2017, the EC issued a "yellow card"warning against Vietnamese seafood exports after Vietnamese fishermen violatedIUU regulations.
Since then, it has sent delegations to Vietnam thrice toassess Vietnam’s implementation of the commission’s recommendations to have thecard removed./.
VNA
