Offshore fishing vessels are at My Tan fishing port in the south central province of Ninh Thuan. (Photo:VNA) Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – Authorities,localities, fishermen, and businesses have kept taking measures to fight illegal,unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, striving to get the European Commission(EC)'s “yellow card” warning to be removed soon.
Of the measures, the implementation of theLaw on Fisheries is a key part of the inspection relating to fishingactivities. Relevant parties, particularly the border guards, the coastguards, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have been jointly raisingthe awareness of law compliance for fishermen.
In the southern region, Coast GuardRegion 4 Command has conducted many communication activities to raise awarenesson IUU fishing.
From the end of March, it and the Agriculture and Rural Development in Ben Tre province organisedevents providing local fishermen with proper information on the prevention of IUU fishing, measures toverify and handle violations, the basic content of the Law on Coast Guard 2018,legal documents on prevention and combat of IUU fishing, and the situation offishing vessels/fishermen in the area violating foreign waters, consequences,causes, and solutions.
Border guards and other agencies are actively monitoring and inspecting fishing vessels and activities at sea. The force has also intensified patrols and prevents fishing vessels with signs of staying uncontacted or entering foreign seas.
Duong Van Chuong, Vice Chairman of thePeople's Committee of Ba Tri district, Ben Tre province, said the training andcommunication programmes for fishermen in offshore fishing is helpful, helpingthem better understand legal regulations, safe fishing, notviolating the sovereignty of other countries, and sustainable development of fisheries.
In the southernmost province of Ca Mau, thecommand have also conducted communication campaigns about the Party's guidelines,the State's policies and laws on the protection of the sovereignty of sea andislands in the new situation, and against IUU fishing.
As the inspection of raw materialspurchasing, processing, and exporting activities of Vietnamese enterprises isone of the four contents designated by the EC to check Vietnam’s measures inthe fight against IUU fishing, seafood processors and exporters have also taken clearmoves.
According to the Vietnam Association ofSeafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), seafood is one of the four key exportitems of Vietnam's aquaculture industry. It is estimated that on average, tuna and other seafood tuna exports bring the country a turnover of more than 4 billionUSD yearly.
Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, Chairwoman of VASEP’sSeafood Committee, said that seafood processing and exporting enterprises serving theEuropean market strictly comply with regulations against IUU fishing.
Seafood processing and exporting enterprisesalways strive to have clear sources of raw materials. Despite difficulties in purchasing raw seafood withtraceability, businesses must do so to gain a reputation and attract customersin the current fierce competition.
As the EC has imposed a “yellow card” warning onVietnam's seafood exports, local businesses have had to import more rawmaterials of clear origin from other countries for processing and export.
"Following the rules and criteriaagainst IUU fishing is imperative for thebusiness community. Despite a 70% drop in exports to the European market,seafood processing and exporting enterprises still have to make efforts to dowell to keep the market," said Cao Thi Kim Lan, Director of Binh DinhSeafood Joint Stock Company./.
