Illegal fishing should be prevented

Vietnam has made a lot of progress in the monitoring and surveillance of fishing vessels. However, removing the European Commission (EC)’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing “yellow card” remains a challenge for the country.

This was a key message from a workshop which evaluated the three-year implementation of the “Vietnam Marine Product Companies Commit to Combat IUU Fishing” programme.

It was held in HCM City on Saturday by Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Phung Duc Tien, deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that this year two meetings have been organised between Vietnamese Government and EC on updating the implementation of activities relating to the issue.

The EC has valued commitment and efforts of the country, saying it is on the right track towards implementing the Fisheries Law and legal guiding documents.

The country’s significant improvements in the monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing vessels have been noted, while the management process and organisation of fishing vessels and output through ports were carried out flexibly and effectively.

Tien appreciated the efforts and contributions of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and the business community who collaborated with the Government in combating IUU fishing with practical programmes.

At present, 82 percent of fishing vessels are equipped with position monitoring devices and the legal framework has gradually completed.

However, he said, there still existed some shortcomings that needed to be resolved.

Tien cited a slow progress of vessels monitoring system (VMS) on fishing vessels and the common situation that fishing vessels lose connection to the VMS while going fishing as examples.

Some vessels continued to fish in other countries’ territories, he said.

Nguyen Quang Hung, Deputy Director of the General Department of Fisheries, said that the punishment of violated fishing vessels in many localities was not strictly enough.

The number of fishing vessels that have been sanctioned was low compared to the number of vessels found to be violating, he said.

EC said that they will not withdraw the yellow card if Vietnam has not solved the problem of fishing in international waters.

Therefore, Hung said, it was necessary for localities to be serious in dealing with violated fishing vessels and implementing the EC's recommendations,

“It is not only for removing the yellow card but also for future fishery resources and sustainable fishing,” he said.

The EC applied a "yellow card" warning on seafood from Vietnam in October 2017 after a number of Vietnamese fishing vessels were caught trespassing into other countries’ waters.

Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, Vice President of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said Vietnam’s seafood exports to the EU have decreased since 2008 due to the EU's yellow card.

The country’s seafood exports to the EU has only reached US$250 million in the first nine months of this year, down 13.2 per cent compared to the same period last year.

From the second biggest importer of Vietnamese seafood with a value of US$ 380-480 million a year, the EU now ranks fifth, after Japan, the US, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN.