Deputy PM asks for seriously punishing brokers for illegal fishing overseas

A fishing boat of Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Public Security has been asked to seriously punish individuals and organisations working as brokers to bring Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to overseas waters to illegally exploit aquatic resources.

It was directed by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, head of the National Steering Committee on  Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Prevention and Control, in document No.198/TB-VPCP issued by the Government Office on July 21.

The document said over the past years, thanks to drastic directions by the National Steering Committee on the IUU Fishing Prevention and Control together with efforts and determination of ministries, agencies and people’s committees of 28 centrally-run coastal cities and provinces, the fight against IUU fishing has made important results.

To achieve the goal of having the “yellow card” warning lifted next year, the Deputy PM asked heads of relevant ministries, agencies and people’s committees of centrally-run coastal cities and provinces to continue following directions by the permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Prevention and Control and seriously following recommendations by the European Commission.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was assigned to work with ministries and agencies concerned to inspect imported aquatic products. It must also partner with the Foreign Ministry and relevant agencies to propose measures to cooperate with countries, international organisations and region in the exploitation of aquatic resources.

The Ministry of Public Security was tasked with preventing and eliminating IUU fishing in the near future, and promptly report the situation and suggest measures to the Government, PM and the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Prevention and Control.

The Ministry of National Defence was urged to take effective measures to prevent and end fishing vessels from illegally tapping aquatic products overseas, ensuring the security and safety of legal exploitation by Vietnamese fishermen.

Via diplomatic channels, the Foreign Minister will convey messages reflecting the Vietnamese Government’s political determination to combat IUU fishing, deal with issues regarding Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen arrested overseas, oppose to brutal treatment against Vietnamese fishermen in sea areas, especially in overlapping waters and those pending negotiations on demarcation, while working closely with domestic agencies to seriously punish violations.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the Vietnam Fisheries Society, and fisheries enterprises must seriously follow regulations on IUU fishing prevention, as well as stay away from buying, processing or exporting products with IUU fishing origin./.