Not paying enough attention to the removal of IUU yellow card

Not meeting the practical requirements

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, after three inspections, the European Commission (EC) assessed that Vietnam has made positive changes and is on the right track in the fight against illegal fishing in foreign waters.

However, there are also shortcomings that Vietnam needs to soon overcome. Therefore, it is necessary to put in the highest level of effort and determination to act in the coming months to remove the IUU yellow card after the 4th inspection.

“Vietnam's seafood exports reached USD 11 billion in 2022, this is a big number. However, the investment in infrastructure for the industry has not been paid enough attention from the central to local levels. The directing work of the Party committees and local authorities has not yet been conducted properly. The administrative apparatus and equipment have not met the requirements,” said the Deputy Minister.

The EC side claims to only remove the "yellow card" when there are no ships violating foreign waters. So far, Vietnam's VMS installation rate has reached over 96%, but it must be noted that the remaining nearly 4% are high-risk ships. This group is the reason why cases of fishing vessels violating foreign waters still occur.

The process of inspection, examination and thorough review shows that the management and monitoring of activities at sea through VMS still have many shortcomings. The number of ships losing connection on purpose is still relatively high.

“Another thing is that law enforcement is not done properly. When the inspectors come, provinces often give completely unwarranted reasons that are not close to reality. At this point, when the EC comes to inspect again for the 4th time, we must show positive changes. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will stand side by side with localities, ministries and authorities to take drastic action. With the attention and direction of the Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government and especially the Prime Minister, this time we must make every effort to remove the yellow card. We must make it happen to affirm the country's position," said Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien.

Time to “sprint”

According to Mr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh, Standing Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh People's Committee, leaders of Binh Dinh have directed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and related departments, branches and coastal localities with offshore fishing vessels to focus on very specific solutions, making maximum efforts to overcome existing problems in the fight against IUU fishing.

“We direct the Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to set up inspection teams to go to localities, especially those with many violating fishing vessels to coordinate and take necessary steps to remove difficulties in the process of preventing fishing vessels from violating IUU regulations. We also strengthen information dissemination to help fishermen realize that fishing while encroaching on foreign waters not only harms themselves and their families but also affects the economy and image of the country," said Mr. Nguyen Tuan Thanh.

According to the Khanh Hoa functional sector, the results achieved in the fight against IUU fishing in the area in recent years are thanks to the drastic direction of the provincial Party Committee, the People's Committee, the participation of the whole political system, and the close coordination of departments and localities.

Quang Ngai's success in preventing IUU fishing is thanks to the change in direction and adjustment compared to previous years. Photo: Le Khanh.

In the coming time, Khanh Hoa will continue to improve the efficiency of coordination between relevant law enforcement forces in carrying out anti-IUU tasks, especially the handling of cases of IUU fishing violations such as crossing the sea boundary, disconnection or loss of connection to VMS devices at sea. Khanh Hoa resolutely deals with violations of IUU regulations at the highest level.

“In 2022, Khanh Hoa's specialized fisheries inspection force established 43 groups to patrol, inspect and control activities against IUU fishing in the province area. As a result, 545 patrols and administrative checks were carried out for 774 fishing vessels, 16 clamshell cages and 4 stun guns were seized, 23 sets of exciters were confiscated. The local authorities sanctioned 79 cases with a total penalty amount of VND 766 million. Records of handling violated fishing vessels were fully archived and regularly updated publicly on the website of Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and on the administrative violation sanctioning software of the Directorate of Fisheries,” said Mr. Nguyen Trong Chanh, Director of Khanh Hoa Sub-Department of Fisheries.