Action is essential to remove the IUU yellow card

Mr. Duong Van Cuong, Deputy Director of the Fisheries Surveillance Department, stated that in the first six months of 2024, the department successfully completed the construction and submission of plans, projects, and programs for approval by the relevant authorities as per the assigned tasks.

Regarding the ongoing efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, the department has provided advice to the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Steering Committee on IUU, the Government, and the Prime Minister to direct and coordinate timely actions to combat IUU fishing and lift the "yellow card" warning.

The cooperation between the fisheries control forces and law enforcement forces at sea under the Ministry of Defense and local authorities has been well executed, yielding many positive results. This is especially evident in maintaining law enforcement forces in overlapping and adjacent maritime areas with other countries to prevent foreign fishing vessels from violating Vietnamese waters and Vietnamese fishing vessels from violating foreign waters (including the Gulf of Tonkin and the Southwest region).

Despite these positive results in law enforcement and combating IUU fishing, there are still many shortcomings and limitations, which, according to the EC, have not yet met the required standards.

The situation of fishing vessels and fishermen being detained and handled by foreign authorities remains complex, with increasingly sophisticated forms of violations. The number of serious violations has not been thoroughly addressed to ensure deterrence. Additionally, 4 out of 28 coastal provinces and cities have not yet completed the establishment of local fisheries control forces.

Deputy Minister of MARD Phung Duc Tien assessed that, in recent times, the Fisheries Surveillance Department has effectively collaborated with the Directorate of Fisheries and other units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in developing a system of legal documents. In the coming period, the Fisheries Surveillance Department needs to streamline its organizational structure and improve its equipment and human resources to enhance operational conditions.

Regarding the issue of lifting the IUU "yellow card," Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien urged the Fisheries Surveillance Department to enhance its role by increasing control, monitoring, and surveillance of vessels related to the installation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS), vessel painting, and "3 no" fishing vessels. From now until September 2024, efforts must be intensified to ensure the traceability of exploited seafood.

The situation of fishing vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters remains complex, necessitating the cooperation of all relevant forces such as the police, border guards, coast guard, and navy. Additionally, strict penalties must be imposed on administrative violations in the fisheries sector.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien also emphasized the importance of conservation and protection of fishery resources, as this is a crucial factor for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

Additionally, there needs to be greater attention to international cooperation and communication, particularly focusing on systematically communicating Directive 32 of the Secretariat, Government Plan 52, Resolution 04, national sector plans, and plans for conservation and fishery exploitation...

"We must take concrete actions to lift the IUU yellow card. We have already made efforts, but in the coming time, we need to be even more determined to remove the IUU yellow card warning by September this year, as per the objectives of the Secretariat, the Government, and the Prime Minister", emphasized Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien.

Nguyen Quang Hung, Director of the Fisheries Surveillance Department, stated that the department would seriously consider the directives of Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien. In the last six months of 2024, the Fisheries Surveillance Department will continue to carry out its assigned tasks, with a particular focus on combating IUU fishing. "We hope to continue receiving even closer cooperation from all units in the next six months", Mr. Hung expressed.