IUU is the EC's regulation, but the benefits belong to Vietnam

Listen to fishermen

Before working with the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee on the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Minister Le Minh Hoan and the delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) had a field trip at De Gi Fishing Port (Phu Cat district). At De Gi Fishing Port, Minister Le Minh Hoan had a friendly conversation with local fishermen.

Fisherman Duong Duy Su (66 years old), owner of the fishing vessel BD 93737 TS in An Quang village, Cat Khanh commune (Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh), shared with the Minister: "Regarding the story of combating IUU fishing, most fishermen have grasped thanks to local officials, from village party cells to commune officials, regularly reminding and disseminating the IUU regulations that fishermen need to comply with. When they arrived at the border checkpoint, the fishermen heard warnings from the soldiers.

At fishing ports, the port officials repeatedly reminded fishermen of the regulations. However, there are still IUU-violating fishing vessels. I think this is due to the enticement of brokers to send fishing ships to foreign waters to achieve output. Fishing vessel owners who are not steadfast will be shaky, thus committing a violation. In order for there to be no more fishing vessels violating foreign waters, first, it is requested that the State eliminate all the above-mentioned brokers."

As for fisherman Ngo Thanh Long, owner of the fishing vessel BD 93649 TS (715CV) in Trung Luong, Cat Tien commune (Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh), he said: "The vessels at risk of IUU violations are mostly old wooden-hulled ships with a small capacity and the impossibility to compete with large-capacity and modernly equipped fishing vessels. These ship owners wish to quit their job but are afraid of losing their livelihood and do not know what else to do, so they have to stick to the sea. When sticking to the sea, they often run the risk of letting their ships fish in foreign waters to earn a lot of fish. Therefore, we hope the State will have a support policy so that fishermen who wish to change their profession can fulfill their wishes."

After hearing the thoughts of fishermen, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, Chairman of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee, was excited to hear fishermen share about the IUU story. Their sharings proved that they have grasped the regulations on IUU, known how to comply, and frankly mentioned the causes leading to the violation.

Mr. Tuan said: "The Secretary of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee has directed the fisheries industry to move in a sustainable direction. In the coming time, Binh Dinh will conduct a general review, and those fishermen who still have enough conditions to stay at sea will continue. Fishermen who own wooden-hulled fishing vessels for ineffective exploitation will be encouraged to change their profession. Fishermen liquidating their ships will have the Provincial People's Committee buy back the ship's hull and engine, support vocational training costs, and provide support to ensure the fishermen's lives. This work will be done by Binh Dinh this year."

After listening to the opinions of fishermen, Minister Le Minh Hoan understood that fishermen who are conscious of complying with IUU regulations are very frustrated with violating vessels that make the EC's seafood "yellow card" still "hang" on the lives of fishermen.

The Minister shared and understood the fishermen's frustration. But as the old grandparents said, "one rotten apple spoils the barrel." Unconscious fishermen arrested by foreign countries are "rotten apples," while fishermen who comply with IUU regulations are the "barrel." However, there are not many "rotten apples." The current problem is that the Binh Dinh functional sector at all levels needs to know where "rotten apples" are to find appropriate solutions.

"The functional sector cannot regularly access those 'rotten apples', but neighbors and colleagues doing business together at sea have plenty of opportunities. People find ways to access and disseminate information to make them understand, which is also a useful action for the country. Or the functional sector organizes 'IUU Clubs', periodically gathering fishermen to live at fishing ports. This is also an opportunity to change the 'rotten apples' so that they no longer violate regulations," shared Minister Le Minh Hoan.

IUU is a national story

Since the 4^th inspection of the EC's Inspection Delegation in mid-October 2023, Binh Dinh has urgently implemented strong measures, thoroughly handling the shortcomings and limitations in the anti-IUU fishing work in the area. At the same time, complete urgent and key tasks to contribute to removing the IUU "yellow card." Through inspection, the EC's Inspection Delegation highly appreciated Binh Dinh's efforts in combating IUU fishing and requested Binh Dinh to promote and maintain working intensity in the coming time.

Binh Dinh identified that successfully removing the IUU "yellow card" depends largely on the awareness of fishermen in the fishing process. Therefore, in recent times, Binh Dinh has increased the dissemination work to the highest level in many forms. Disseminating to each fisherman when he returns to shore to sell products after each trip. Disseminating to family members of offshore fishermen. The entire political system of Binh Dinh has been synchroniously involved in the anti-IUU fishing work.

At the working session, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung, Director of the Fisheries Surveillance Department, said that Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa are three provinces with a large amount of tuna and swordfish exported to Europe. That is the reason why the EC paid attention to Binh Dinh during this inspection. In recent times, Binh Dinh is a province that has well-adjusted the work of fleet and exploitation management. However, before the EC comes to inspect for the 5^th time, Binh Dinh still has two big things related to IUU that need to be done.

"First is to confirm the origin of swordfish at Tam Quan Fishing Port, complete before April 20, and have a specific report to MARD so that the Ministry can work with the EC. Second is the issue related to fishing vessels violating foreign waters. The EC’s Inspection Delegation is likely to return to Binh Dinh in the upcoming 5^th inspection. Thus, Binh Dinh needs to review all records at the port, and all unnumbered and unlicensed vessels must be urgently resolved. Absolutely do not confirm the origin of seafood by businesses incorrectly. Especially all records of violations of foreign waters and violations of disconnection of cruise monitoring equipment (VMS) must be fully punished according to regulations. Last year, when the EC inspected and found that Binh Dinh only punished 10% of VMS violations, the EC said the law is not strictly enforced," said Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung.

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Department of Fisheries, requested Binh Dinh review over 500 fishing vessels that have lost connection for over 6 months, while Binh Dinh has more than 90% of fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more installed with VMS equipment. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify where these over 500 fishing vessels are located to accurately compare the data with the EC. At the same time, clarify more than 40% of fishing vessels that depart from Binh Dinh but do not return. In particular, more than 30 unlicensed vessels over 15 meters need to be handled immediately because these are offshore fishing vessels with a high risk of violating foreign waters.

"I assess that Binh Dinh has done a good job in combating IUU fishing in recent times, but I recommend that Binh Dinh do better in the coming time, especially from now until the end of May. It is compulsory to make fishermen understand that the story of IUU is the story of the country, not just any locality. We must identify IUU as a short-term solution for the sustainable fishery and ocean economy. IUU regulations are of the EC, but the benefits are for Vietnam's fisheries industry. This is an opportunity for us to change, move towards a modern fishery, and achieve the goal of being strong from the sea and rich from the sea," Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan shared.