To resolutely prevent Vietnamese fishermen from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters

To resolutely prevent Vietnamese fishermen from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters (Internet image)

On April 17, 2023, the Government of Vietnam issued Official Telegram 265/CD-TTg, focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles to promote production and consumption of agricultural products; implementing 3 national target programs; and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

To resolutely prevent Vietnamese fishermen from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters

Specifically, to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, the Government requires:

Resolutely take strong measures to prevent and put an end to the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen violating illegal fishing in foreign waters, specifically: The concerned ministries, branches, and localities shall direct and strictly and promptly handle organizations and individuals that intentionally commit acts of illegal mining.

In there:

- The Ministry of National Defense shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other ministries, branches, and localities in strengthening patrols, controlling, preventing, and terminating violations.

- The Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam directs the investigation, consolidation of records, and prosecution of organizations and individuals that act as brokers and hookers to bring fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters.

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam shall provide information and dossiers and closely coordinate with ministries, branches, and localities in investigating and completely handling cases of violations that are arrested and handled by foreign countries.

- Coastal localities shall verify and strictly impose penalties for violations in accordance with law and publicize them on mass media for deterrence and education.

At the same time, the Prime Minister criticized the provinces: Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, and Kien Giang continue to let local fishing vessels violate foreign waters from the beginning of 2023 until now and requested the provinces organize a serious review, clearly define the responsibilities of the heads of the localities and relevant units, and report to the Prime Minister before May 15, 2023.

To focus on reviewing and removing legal problems in the agricultural sector in Vietnam

For the task of promoting agricultural production and trade in agricultural products, the Government of Vietnam requested a focus on reviewing and removing legal obstacles, drastically cutting down unnecessary administrative procedures in the field of agriculture, creating a favorable environment to promote the development of enterprises in agriculture, and attracting enterprises to invest in agricultural and rural development, in which emphasis is placed on enterprises applying high technology and deep processing.

This task is chaired by the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam, in collaboration with the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, and Rural Development and relevant agencies, to urgently finalize the Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Decree 57/2018/ND-CP on mechanisms and policies to encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural areas, and submit them to the Government in the second quarter of 2023.

In addition to the above requirements, according to Official Telegram 265/CD-TTg, there are also some requirements as follows:

- Promote brand building, trade promotion, product promotion, and e-commerce;

- Develop and diversify the input supply chain and agricultural product consumption market, maintaining and promoting the traditional market, and continue to negotiate to open new markets, minimizing dependence on a few markets. ;

- Actively implement appropriate trade remedies to protect domestic production and promote exports;

- Strongly and effectively deploy the movement "Vietnamese people give priority to using Vietnamese products" and the Project on renewal of business methods for consuming agricultural Products for the Period of 2021–2025, with a Vision to 2030, approved by the Prime Minister in Decision 194/QD-TTg in 2021.

- Diversify agricultural products, promote deep processing and fine processing in order to overcome the situation of "falling in value", depending on the season and increase the added value of agricultural products. Effectively implement the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program.

More details can be found in Official Telegram 265/CD-TTg, dated April 17, 2023.

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