The widespread of fishing vessels turning off and dismantling their VMS devices remains

Efforts are commendable, yet challenges persist

On the morning of August 29th, in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang presided over a conference aimed at promoting solutions to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the situation regarding IUU fishing, which has been under the "yellow card" warning for over 6 years, has seen significant changes in the management of fisheries exploitation activities and the fight against IUU fishing. Through direct discussions with DG-MARE regarding the recommendations made by the European Commission (EC) during the third inspection round, the EC has continued to recognize and appreciate Vietnam's efforts in combating IUU fishing. Some measures have been implemented to address the issue, and updates and timely exchanges of results have taken place.

However, following the third inspection round by the EC, the results of implementing EC recommendations, as well as carrying out tasks and solutions under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU, there are still many existing limitations and slow practical remedies at the local level. Specifically:

Registration of fishing vessels, issuance of fishing licenses, and updating vessel data in the national fisheries database (VNFishbase) have not been completed. The total number of fishing vessels with lengths of 6 meters and above that have been registered and updated in the VNFishbase is 71,658 out of 86,820 vessels (reaching 82.5%). The issuance of fishing licenses for vessels whose existing licenses have expired has only reached around 70%, broken down into 46% for vessels from 6 to under 12 meters in length, 64.6% for vessels from 12 to under 15 meters, and 94.8% for vessels 15 meters and above.

The situation of fishing vessels engaging in fisheries exploitation without meeting the necessary conditions continues. The installation of VMS devices has reached nearly 100%, yet the issue of fishing vessels disconnecting their VMS connections is common and involves a large number of vessels.

The issue of illegal fishing by Vietnamese fishing vessels in foreign waters still persists and is evolving in a complex manner. As of August 29, 2023, there have been 39 vessels with 252 fishermen apprehended, detained, and concentrated by foreign authorities in provinces such as Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu, Tien Giang, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang. The EC has stated that the "yellow card" warning will not be lifted unless this situation is ended.

Law enforcement and penalties for IUU fishing activities in certain localities remain weak, lacking responsibility, uniformity, and coordination, particularly concerning violations related to illegal fishing in foreign waters, VMS disconnection, and crossing maritime boundaries.

Urgent tasks and solutions to be addressed

With a determined commitment to lifting the "yellow card" warning during the fourth inspection round scheduled for October 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends that Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang direct relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to implement urgent and focal tasks and solutions:

The Ministry of National Defense will lead and coordinate with coastal provinces and centrally governed cities, along with relevant ministries and sectors, to concentrate on strong measures to prevent fishing vessels from violating fisheries exploitation regulations in foreign waters until October 2023.

The Ministry of Public Security will promptly consolidate files and bring to prosecution cases of intermediaries and facilitators who arrange for Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to engage in illegal fisheries exploitation in foreign waters to ensure the strict enforcement of the law.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to organize inspection teams, provide guidance, and urge localities to address existing limitations and constraints, ensuring strict compliance with IUU fishing prevention regulations. The ministry proposes that the National Steering Committee commend and encourage groups and individuals who perform well and recommends appropriate measures for those who do not fulfill their assigned responsibilities and tasks.

Thoroughly prepare for online discussions with the EC in September 2023 to achieve the best results; develop an overall plan for preparation and cooperation with the EC's inspection delegation for the fourth inspection round in Vietnam in October 2023, with the determination to lift the "yellow card" warning.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promptly grasps and collects information, and closely coordinates with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to consolidate records, investigate, and comprehensively resolve cases of fishing vessels violating regulations on illegal fishing in foreign waters.

The Ministry of Information and Communications is urgently studying options to support satellite subscription fees for vessel owners installing VMS devices.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance allocate sufficient funds for relevant departments, ministries, sectors, and localities to implement IUU fishing prevention tasks as assigned by the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU.

Furthermore, it is also essential to direct the General Department of Vietnam Customs to closely cooperate with functional agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of National Defense, and local authorities to strictly control the regulations for seafood products exploited from foreign vessels entering Vietnamese ports, especially container ships.

The People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally-run cities closely coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries and sectors to concentrate efforts to prevent fishing vessels from engaging in illegal fishing activities in foreign waters until October 2023; hold accountable the leaders of Party committees, government authorities at all levels, and functional forces for the results of their execution.

Closely monitor fishing vessels operating at sea, ensuring compliance with regulations to activate VMS devices when participating in fishing activities; instruct law enforcement agencies to seriously fulfill their duties, investigate, verify, and impose strict penalties in accordance with the law for IUU fishing violations; particularly focus on strictly and thoroughly addressing cases of violations related to VMS regulations and fishing vessels engaged in illegal fishing activities in foreign waters; ensure an increased number of investigations and resolutions.

Implement regulations for fishing vessel management strictly, complete 100% registration, inspection, and issuance of fishing licenses; fully update fishing vessel data in VNFishbase, ensuring consistent statistics in local reports and on VNFishbase.

Control the entry and exit of fishing vessels at ports, monitor the loading and unloading of seafood products through ports; ensure that 100% of designated fishing vessels enter the ports, and monitor 100% of locally harvested seafood production.

Strictly adhere to regulations regarding confirmation, certification, and traceability of origin; severely address cases where organizations and individuals intentionally legitimize the documentation of export shipments to the European market (pursue criminal charges if there is sufficient evidence).

Allocate sufficient resources (personnel, funding, equipment) for relevant local functional forces to carry out IUU fishing prevention tasks; assign capable, responsible, and well-trained officers with appropriate incentive mechanisms, policies, rewards, and recognition.

Urgently establish local Fisheries Inspection teams as stipulated in the Fisheries Law and related guidelines.

Implement the findings of the third inspection by the European Commission; propose that the provinces of Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and relevant localities collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of National Defense to investigate, verify, and rigorously address violations in accordance with the law, including two imported fishing vessels violating IUU regulations at Hai Vuong Company; exported shipments violating IUU regulations at Thinh Hung LLC and T&H Nha Trang LLC; ship repair ports violating IUU regulations in issuing origin certification for 7 tons of swordfish to Thinh Hung LLC and other fish ports (if similar violations are found).

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and seafood export businesses continue to collaborate with the government to enforce IUU regulations, refusing to purchase, process, or export seafood products with IUU origins. Closely cooperate with functional agencies in investigating, verifying, and rigorously addressing organizations, individuals, and seafood businesses involved in illegal activities, legitimizing documentation, aiding and abetting IUU activities.