Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien has asked the Directorate ofFisheries to pool all possible resources and take synchronous measures to soonremove “yellow card” warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU)fishing.
At a conference to review the directorate's performance in 2021 and launch its tasks for next year in Hanoi on December 24, Tien hailed the directorate for contributing to thegrowth of agriculture and rural development sector this year.
The total aquatic output was estimatedat 8.73 million tonnes this year, up 1 percent annually. Export earnings roseby 5.7 percent year-on-year to 8.89 billion USD, surpassing the plan by 4.6 percent.
Sixteen out of 28 provinces have grantedcertificates of origin to caught seafood products, mostly those inthe south central, southeast and southwest, in service of exports to Europe.This year, 3,104 certificates were granted to 41,085 tonnes of aquatic productsof various kinds.
As of the late November, 98fishing vessels and 775 fishermen in 60 cases were arrested in overseas waters,down 32 percent year-on-year.
Deputy General Director of thedirectorate Nguyen Quang Hung said in the near future, the directorate willdirect growing aquatic products with economic value, develop linkage chains, ensure food safety and hygiene.
It will also work closely withlocalities to instruct farmers how to catch seafood at sea by chain to savecost and improve efficiency, he said./.
