Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Phung Duc Tien has asked localities to closely control the entryand exit of fishing vessels at ports, and prevent unqualified fishing vessels fromexploitation activities, thus making thorough preparations for the fourth on-siteinspection by the European Commission (EC) in this October.
Theywere also urged to raise public awareness of regulations on fighting illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, especially among fishermen andofficials at the grassroots level.
Tien notedthat following the third inspection, the EC delegation pointed out four shortcomingsthat need to be fixed, including legal framework, fleet management,traceability of exploited aquatic products, and law enforcement.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) About legaldocuments, Vietnam has basically met requirements. At present, the process of amending andsupplementing Decree No. 42/2019/ND-CP on administrative penalties forviolations in the fisheries sector and Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP providingdetailed provisions and measures for implementing the Fisheries Law isundergoing review by the Ministry of Justice and will be submitted to the PrimeMinister for issuance.
NguyenQuang Hung, Directorof the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance, said the EC has acknowledged Vietnam's outstanding achievements inthe work with concerted efforts from ministries, agencies and localities.
Theinstallation of vessel monitoring system (VMS) on large-capacity vessels and theissuance of exploitation licenses and registrations, has reached about 98%. Localities need to do the remaining work before the EC delegation arrives, he said.
Localitiesmust strive to ensure that no violations occur in foreign waters from now andOctober. Only then could Vietnam see the opportunity to have the "yellow card" warninglifted, he added.
Heinformed that in the coming time, the National Steering Committee on IUUFishing Prevention will hold a conference to draw lessons from the intensiveefforts over the 180-day period to address the "yellow card" status./.
