Some solutions to combat illegal fishing in Vietnam

Some solutions to combat illegal fishing in Vietnam (Internet image)

Content mentioned in Notice 209/TB-VPCP in 2023 conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang at the seventh meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing promulgated by the Office of the Government.

Some solutions to combat illegal fishing in Vietnam

(1) Heads of relevant departments, ministries, branches and People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally-run cities continue to strictly implement the directives of the Prime Minister in Decision 81/QD-TTg of 2023 on the promulgation of "Action plan against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, preparing to work with the 4th European Commission Inspection Delegation" and Official Telegram 265/CD-TTg in 2023 on "Focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles to promote production and consumption of agricultural products; implementation of 3 national target programs; against IUU fishing" and other relevant guiding documents; attach the responsibility of the heads of all levels to the results of anti-IUU fishing;

Seriously organizing a review of organizations and individuals if there are violations against IUU fishing in the locality; arranging enough capable, qualified, and responsible staff to perform the work; and having appropriate mechanisms, policies, and remuneration regimes.

(2) Ministry of Defense of Vietnam:

Assuming the prime responsibility for and coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the concerned ministries, branches, and localities in continuing to direct and organize the implementation of more drastic measures to control the entry and exit of fishing vessels operating at sea to prevent and handle acts of IUU fishing;

Especially preventing and stopping fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters; investigate, verify, and thoroughly handle acts of IUU fishing; if there are sufficient grounds for criminal handling, conduct an investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law to deter and ensure the strictness of the law.

(3) Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam:

Expeditiously investigating, consolidating records, and prosecuting brokers and hookers who bring Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally fish in foreign waters to ensure deterrence and strictness under the law.

(4) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam:

Timely capturing, collecting information, and closely coordinating with relevant ministries, branches, and localities to consolidate records, investigate, and definitively handle cases of fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters.

(5) Ministry of Finance of Vietnam:

Allocating sufficient funds for relevant departments, ministries, branches, and localities to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing as assigned by the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU.

(6) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam:

- Reviewing, amending, and supplementing legislative provisions related to the actual situation, ensuring that the legal basis is sufficiently deterrent to tighten management and combat IUU fishing.

- Implementing digital transformation, applying information technology, and urgently building and perfecting tools to control fishing vessel activities at sea and at ports; In the immediate future, focus on perfecting the fishing vessel monitoring system, ensuring control and preventing acts of disconnecting and reconnecting VMS devices, and ensuring the storage and transmission of data for investigation, verification, and handling of IUU fishing violations.

- Carefully preparing the content of the report, the follow-up script, and working with the 4th EC's Inspection Delegation. At the same time, advise on developing a plan to perform each specific task of the relevant ministries, branches, and localities to be completed by October 2023, preparing to work with the 4th EC Inspection Delegation.

(7) People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally-run cities:

- Working closely with the Ministry of National Defense to prevent and resolve to put an end to the situation of local fishing vessels violating illegal fishing in foreign waters. Strictly organize a review of relevant organizations and individuals if there are still violations by local fishing vessels in illegal fishing in foreign waters.

- Strictly implementing, ensure the completion of the management of fishing vessels according to regulations (registration, registration, issuance of fishing licenses, installation of VMS equipment, and full update of fishing vessel data into the national fisheries database) before the EC's inspection team visits the 4th time.

- Strictly controlling the operation of local fishing vessels and other provincial fishing vessels operating locally; concentrating on the peak of law enforcement, thoroughly sanctioning acts of IUU fishing occurring in the province according to the provisions of Decree 42/2019/ND-CP.

- Strictly complying with the work of certification and traceability of caught seafood to ensure chain links from fishing vessels to fishing ports, fisheries sub-departments, and purchasing, processing, and exporting establishments; strictly handling organizations and individuals legalizing dossiers for export shipments, including criminal handling if there are sufficient grounds.

(8) Relevant departments, ministries, branches, and localities:

Based on the assigned functions and tasks, they are strictly implemented, with the results of the direction of the Standing Secretariat of the Secretariat, the directives of the Prime Minister, and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU. Periodically report on implementation results to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (standing agency of the National Steering Committee on IUU) to summarize and report to the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU.

Duong Chau Thanh

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