Vietnam sets a goal to remove the 'IUU yellow card' in 2023

A political, priority and urgent task

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has recently signed Decision No. 81 promulgating the Action Plan to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and prepared to work with the 4th European Commission Inspection Delegation.

Accordingly, the action plan identifies preventing and eliminating IUU fishing as the responsibility of each coastal country to protect aquatic resources and sustainable marine ecosystems, stabilizing sustainable livelihoods of the people, ensuring national defense and security in the seas and implementing international commitments and treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

The overall goal of the action plan is to prevent and eliminate IUU fishing as well as effectively implement the Resolution of the 12th Party Central Committee on the Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy until 2030, with a vision towards 2045, and the Prime Minister's Decision on approving the Vietnam Fisheries Development Strategy until 2030, with a vision towards 2045.

Accordingly, stakeholders must implement the provisions of the law on fisheries synchronously, effectively and efficiently; overcome the shortcomings and limitations according to the recommendations made by the European Commission on anti-IUU fishing, with the aim of removing "IUU yellow card" in 2023.

On the other hand, the action plan aims to unify the awareness, action and participation of the political system with regards to IUU fishing prevention and control. Heads of party committees, party organizations and administrations across all levels of relevant departments, ministries, branches and localities need to directly lead, direct and take responsibility for IUU fishing prevention and control. This must be considered a political, priority, urgent task, requiring focused resources on the implementation; in orde to remove Vietnam's "IUU yellow card".

In addition, the third goal is to manage the exploitation and sustainable development of the fisheries sector for the benefit of the people and the country; raise the international position, image and responsibility of Vietnam with regards to the implementation of international commitments and treaties in the protection of the marine environment and sustainable marine ecosystems; contribute to ensuring national defense and security, sovereignty over national seas and islands.

A series of tasks

According to the action plan, relevant ministries, branches and localities need to perform many important tasks by May 2023 in order to accomplish the aforementioned goals.

Namely, the government needs to review and gather statistics of the total number of local fishing vessels, complete the registration, marking of fishing vessels, granting of fishing licenses, and installing of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) according to regulations. All of these tasks must be completed by May 2023.

Furthermore, update fishing vessel data in the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase); compile a list of fishing vessels not engaged in fishing and vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing, and send them to relevant authorities as well as assign specific units and individuals to monitor and manage.

Inspect and control all fishing vessels entering and exiting at sea border posts/stations; inspect and control fishing vessels entering and leaving the fishing port in accordance with regulations to ensure continuous operation of the VMS equipment from the time the fishing vessel leaves the port to the time it arrives at the port; 24/7 monitoring and surveillance of all fishing vessels operating at sea through a fishing vessel monitoring system.

Develop a system of coordination between localities to control all of the provincial fishing vessels operating in areas outside the province, docked fishing vessels certified in another province. Develop mechanisms and policies to support fishing vessel owners to purchase and install VMS equipment in addition to satellite subscription fees to maintain VMS equipment operation.

Most notably, it is urgent to establish a local Fisheries Control under the provisions of the 2017 Fisheries Law and the Law on Organization of Local Governments according to the province's authority.

The plan also establishes the task of certifying and tracing the origin of caught seafood under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, ensuring records of all shipments exported to the European market and other markets that require traceability of raw fishery materials.

Regarding the task of law enforcement and handling of violations, fishing vessels must cease illegal  fishing activities in foreign waters; investigate and handle all cases of Vietnamese fishing vessels being arrested by foreign countries; handle and sanction all cases of illegal fishing in foreign waters and information on mass media; verify and handle all fishing vessels that fail to maintain the connection of vessel monitoring system equipment according to regulations…