Illustrative image (Source: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn) Da Nang (VNA) – The People’s Committeeof Da Nang has promulgated a plan on fisheries inspection across the centralcity to ensure the origins of aquatic products.
Agencies will intensify examination of thedeparture and arrival of vessels at Tho Quang fishing port and handleviolations of fisheries law in water areas under the management of the city.
Authorities will set up a Fisheries ControlOffice to make risk assessment and inspection criteria to prevent illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities as instructed by theEuropean Commission (EC).
The municipal People’s Committee entrusted theDepartment of Agriculture and Rural to work with the Border Guards Command andrelevant agencies to establish the Fisheries Control Office and build coordinationregulations to ensure round-the-clock inspection and control of fishingvessels.
Realising the importance of obeying regulationsfrom European markets, the municipal Department of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment have worked with agencies to help fishermen work legally.
The department has coordinated with the BorderGuards Command and People’s Committees in districts to open classes for 20aquatic export businesses and nearly 400 fishermen who are ship owners orcaptains to disseminate new regulations of Law on Fisheries 2017, IUUprevention activities and certification of aquatic products, among others.
According to the management board of Tho Quangfishing port, Tho Quang fisheries market has conducted more than 7,000 origindeclarations on a total of 25,000 tonnes of seafood since the beginning of thisyear.
In October 2017, the EC issued a yellow cardwarning Vietnam for failing to progress in fighting IUU fishing.
The EU will assess Vietnam’s efforts to fightIUU fishing. The "yellow card" is followed by a "greencard" if the problem is resolved or a "red card" if it isn’t. A“red card” can lead to a trade ban on fishery products.
A working delegation of the European Commission’s Directorate-Generalfor Maritime Affairs and Fisheries began a fact-finding trip to Vietnam on May15 to inspect the implementation of recommendations related to the fightagainst IUU fishing.-VNA
VNA
