Phu Yen does not meet the requirements for combating IUU fishing

On the afternoon of April 19, the delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, led by Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, worked with the People's Committee of Phu Yen province on the situation of production, management of fisheries activities, fisheries infrastructure and implementation Fisheries Law 2017; examine the implementation of the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; direction of the Standing Committee of the Secretariat, of the Prime Minister and implementation of the conclusions of the National Steering Committee on IUU.

Previously, the delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inspected and worked at Dong Tac fishing port, Tuy Hoa City (Phu Yen province), and the Fisheries Sub-Department on implementing EC recommendations.

At the meeting with the Provincial People's Committee, the mission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development pointed out the shortcomings in combating IUU fishing in Phu Yen. The targets implemented under Decision 81 of the Prime Minister have not met the requirements such as monitoring seafood output through ports, especially tuna production is still low, many problems in the traceability of aquatic products, logging of catches…

Before the above reality, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung - Deputy Director of the General Department of Fisheries suggested that Phu Yen province needs to review all records, especially records of the fishing log, registration, fishing license, etc., along with mobilizing forces to inspect and control ships entering and leaving the port, and exploiting output. In the immediate future, the province must review seafood export records to the European market. In addition, the province needs to strengthen strict penalties for fishing vessels violating administrative regulations in the fisheries sector; and pay attention to directing and supplementing resources for the Sub-Department of Fisheries and fishing ports and border guards to perform well the task of combating IUU declaration...

According to Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, it is expected that from May 24 to 31, the EC inspection team will go to Vietnam to check the implementation of the recommendations for the 4th time. The delegation will likely enter Phu Yen province because this province has a significant export of tuna and swordfish in Europe.

The Deputy Minister suggested that Phu Yen province create favorable conditions for the fisheries sector to complete and perform the tasks under Decision 81 of the Prime Minister on promulgating the "Action plan against illegal fishing, unreported and unregulated, preparing to work with the 4th European Commission Inspection Delegation".

The Deputy Minister noted that the communication task had been done well, but it is necessary to re-determine the objects. The management and supervision of the fleet must put on top tasks; The traceability of seafood must be strictly implemented; law enforcement and administrative sanctions must be pushed up a step and synchronized with all 28 coastal provinces.

For the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to consider investing in a storm shelter anchorage for fishing boats Lach Van Cui, An Ninh Tay commune (Tuy An) in association with Tien Chau fishing port and investing in Lach Hoa storm shelter anchorage Hiep Nam - Hoa Hiep Trung (Dong Hoa town) associated with Phu Lac fishing port, the Deputy Minister noted and asked the province to review and said that fisheries infrastructure must be invested to support the management of fishery products and supervise fishing vessels...

After listening to the opinions of the delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, together with the conclusion of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, Mr. Le Tan Ho, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Yen province promised to coordinate the sectors, localities to overcome the shortcomings pointed out, to soon contribute to removing the EC's yellow card.

Mr. Nguyen Tri Phuong, Deputy Director of Phu Yen Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that regarding implementing EC recommendations on combating IUU fishing, Phu Yen province has recently issued many documents, planning, directing and operating, and promoting propaganda and dissemination of the law to fishermen. Up to now, the province has 641/653 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more that have installed cruise monitoring equipment, reaching 98.16%. 100% of fishing vessel data has been registered and licensed for fishing into the national database system Vnfishbase... Especially from 2019 to now, Phu Yen province has had no illegal fishing vessels in foreign waters.