Localities step up monitoring over operations of fishing boats and the IUU fishing combat. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – After three rounds of inspection, the European Commission (EC) has affirmed that Vietnam is on the right track in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, but the country has yet to satisfy set requirements, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien.
The EC will conduct the fourth inspection in June 2023, giving Vietnam only more than 100 days to further implement measures against IUU fishing. Therefore, localities are ramping up efforts to handle limitations and shortcomings as recommended by the EC to remove the “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood this year.
Registration required for all fishing boats
According to the Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of the end of 2022, up to 96.5% of fishing boats were equipped with the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and 86.7% were licensed.
Last year, 157 fishing boats measuring from 24 metres in length were found to have lost signals. In January 2023 alone, up to six boats were arrested by Malaysian authorities.
The EC has not removed the warning yet, and even given more recommendations to Vietnam. Given this, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed a decision issuing an action plan on preventing IUU fishing and preparing for working sessions with the fourth inspection delegation of the EC.
Nguyen Quang Hung, Deputy General Director of the Directorate of Fisheries and Director of the Fisheries Surveillance Department under the MARD, said the document highlighted the target of removing the warning this year.
To that end, from now until May 2023, relevant ministries, agencies and localities will review all boats and complete registration, licensing and VMS installation in line with regulations, as well as the update of vessel data into the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase).
The decision also stressed the need for localities to set up coordination mechanisms to control all of their fishing boats operating outside their territories.
Vietnam expects to have the “yellow card” warning lifted this year. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Illegal fishing in foreign waters must be ended, the document said, noting that all cases of violations must be investigated and made public via mass media.
Close monitoring
After the issuance of the decision, localities have worked out their own plans and measures against IUU fishing, with many focusing on monitoring fishing boats as signal loss has still occurred.
Last year, competent forces detected 28 fishing boats that sent their VMS devices to others. In the first months of this year, 15 devices from fishing boats in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau were found on a boat in Tien Giang province.
Huynh Thai Son, Director of southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the local public security force and border guards have been instructed to investigate and handle such violations, adding the province will establish checkpoints at sea and ask the fisheries surveillance force to work round the clock.
Kien Giang, home to 9,800 vessels, the largest number nationwide, of them more than 3,800 measuring over 15 metres long, reported most violations, with 11 cases last year involving 17 boats and 154 fishermen.
Localities are stepping up efforts in monitoring operations of fishing boats. (Photo: VietnamPlus) The provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee have called on people, especially boat owners, captains, fishermen and traders, to respond to the IUU fishing combat.
Tien stressed that the above-said decision has been devised on the basis of proposals by ministries and agencies, as well as consensus of localities.
The Deputy Minister expressed his belief that despite limited resources, the EC’s warning will soon be lifted thanks to a high political resolve and close coordination between ministries, agencies and localities, and the leadership of the Government and the Prime Minister./.
