Issuance of Resolution 04 to provide guidelines for investigating criminal acts related to illegal exploitation, trading, and transportation of aquatic products in Vietnam

Issuance of Resolution 04 to provide guidelines for investigating criminal acts related to illegal exploitation, trading, and transportation of aquatic products in Vietnam

On June 12, 2024, the Judicial Council of the Supreme People's Court issued Resolution 04/2024/NQ-HDTP providing guidelines for the application of certain provisions of the Penal Code regarding the criminal liability for acts related to the illegal exploitation, trading, and transportation of aquatic products.

Resolution 04/2024/NQ-HDTP provides guidance on the application of certain provisions in Articles 347, 348, and 349 regarding the act of exiting or entering the country for the purpose of illegally exploiting aquatic products; Articles 242 and 244 concerning acts related to the protection of aquatic resources; Article 287 on the act of obstructing or disrupting the operation of computer networks or telecommunications networks for the illegal exploitation of aquatic products; and Articles 188, 189, 198, and 341 regarding acts of infringement in the field of aquatic product commercialization, as amended and supplemented by the Law on amendments to the Criminal Code in 2017.

Resolution 04/2024/NQ-HDTP takes effect from August 1, 2024.

Issuance of Resolution 04 to provide guidelines for investigating criminal acts related to illegal exploitation, trading, and transportation of aquatic products in Vietnam - image from internet

What are acts of illegal exploitation of aquatic products in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 1 Article 2 of Resolution 04/2024/NQ-HDTP, the act of illegal exploitation of aquatic products is defined as the performance of one or more unlawful acts of exploiting aquatic products as stipulated in Clause 1 Article 60 of the Law on Fisheries in 2017, including:

- Exploiting aquatic products without a license

- Exploiting aquatic products in prohibited fishing areas, during prohibited fishing periods, or exploiting and transporting prohibited aquatic products; exploiting aquatic species that are smaller than the prescribed size; using prohibited fishing techniques or fishing gear

- Illegally exploiting endangered, rare, and precious aquatic species listed in the species inventory

- Illegally exploiting aquatic products in the marine areas under the management authority of regional, national, and other territorial fishing management organizations

- Exceeding the allowed catch quantity per species, exploiting in the wrong fishing area, or exceeding the time limit specified in the license

- Concealing, falsifying, or destroying evidence of violations related to the exploitation and protection of aquatic resources

- Obstructing or opposing authorized personnel from conducting inspections and monitoring compliance with regulations on exploitation and protection of aquatic resources

- Transferring or assisting vessels identified to be engaged in illegal exploitation of aquatic products, except in cases of force majeure

- Not equipping or inadequately equipping, or not operating communication and voyage monitoring devices as prescribed

- Not having a Food Safety Certificate of compliance with the requirements for safe food production

- Temporarily importing, re-exporting, temporarily exporting, re-importing, transiting, or transferring aquatic products or seafood products through Vietnamese territory that originate from illegal exploitation of aquatic products

- Not recording, inadequately recording, incorrect recording, or failure to submit the fisheries catch logbook as required

- Using non-national or non-member state vessels to illegally exploit aquatic products in international waters under the jurisdiction of regional fishing management organizations

- Using fishing vessels to exploit aquatic products in international waters not under the jurisdiction of regional fishing management organizations, in violation of regulations on the exploitation and protection of aquatic resources.