Vietnamese Communist Party requests to implement the goal of removing the IUU 'yellow card' in 2024

On behalf of the Secretariat, comrade Truong Thi Mai, Standing Committee of the Secretariat and Head of the Central Organization Committee, signed Directive No. 32-CT/TW dated April 10, 2024 of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and developing the fisheries industry sustainably.

Accordingly, over the years, the fisheries industry has continued to develop and has become a spearhead economic sector with a total annual output of over 9 million tons, contributing about 30% of the agricultural sector's GDP. Aquatic products are exported to 170 countries and territories, ranking third in the world. The fisheries industry has also created jobs for millions of workers, thereby making an important contribution to socio-economic development and protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands.

Since 2017, all levels, sectors, and the National Steering Committee on Combating IUU Fishing have made many efforts in implementing policies and laws and building a system to monitor, control, and supervise fishing vessels to promote state management and gradually reduce the number of violations.

However, Vietnam's fisheries industry has not yet developed sustainably, has not removed the European Commission's "yellow card" warning, and has not fully complied with regulations against IUU fishing. There are still limitations in implementing a comprehensive fleet management and monitoring system; updating the national fisheries database; seafood traceability; building a seafood production linkage chain between fishermen, businesses, and governments; and handling violations.

The main causes of the above-mentioned limitations are that some Party committees, Party organizations, and governments, especially the leaders, are not deeply and fully aware, are not drastic in their leadership and direction, are still subjective, have loose management, and are irresponsible. Therefore, implementation efficiency is not high. The awareness of compliance with the law among some fishermen and businesses is still limited. Fishery infrastructure and control of fishing vessel operations, exploited output, and traceability do not meet requirements. A part of the fishing vessels has not met the necessary conditions. Inspection, supervision, coordination, detection, and handling of violations are not strict, regular, and synchronous.

To promote the fight against IUU fishing and ensure the sustainable development of the fisheries industry, the Secretariat requests Party committees, Party organizations, governments, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations to focus on performing well the following key and urgent tasks:

1. Identify the fight against IUU fishing as an important, urgent task with long-term significance for the sustainable development of the fisheries industry. Identify anti-IUU fishing work as the responsibility of the entire political system and the whole society, first of all Party committees, Party organizations, and heads of sectors and localities who have direct responsibility for leading, directing, and creating unity, synchronization, and high determination to implement the goal of removing the "yellow card" warning in 2024 and maintain sustainable results, contributing to socio-economic development. Protect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the sea and islands; strengthen Vietnam's political and diplomatic relations and position internationally.

Promote the work of disseminating laws, raising awareness among Party committees, Party organizations, governments, officials, Party members, enterprises, and coastal and island fishermen communities about sustainable development of the fisheries industry and anti-IUU fishing. Pay attention to mobilizing, grasping the situation, promptly detecting, and early and remotely preventing fishing vessels and fishermen from intentionally violating, especially illegal fishing in foreign waters.

Promote the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, mass associations, and press agencies in advocacy, dissemination, raising awareness, responsibility, and sense of enforcing the law, promptly reflecting violations, and praising and rewarding organizations and individuals for good implementation of guidelines, policies, and laws on combating illegal fishing to contribute to the early removal of the "yellow card" warning according to the set goals.

2. Effectively implement the Party's resolutions and policies on the "Strategy for Sustainable Development of Vietnam's Marine Economy to 2030, with a Vision to 2045"; national plans, strategies, and programs related to sustainable development and international integration of the fisheries industry. Urgently review and perfect policies and laws; Supplement sanctions to strictly handle violations; and Promptly overcome limitations and inadequacies and improve the effectiveness of the fight against IUU fishing. Pay attention to policies on farming, exploiting, protecting, and developing aquatic resources, preserving and processing them for export; Develop policies to support the modernization of the fishery, improve livelihoods, provide vocational training, create conditions for fishermen to go offshore, stick to the sea, and improve their lives.

3. Improve state management capacity in combating IUU fishing; Ensure tools and means for the inspection, examination, and handling of violations by law enforcement forces at sea. Generally review and count the number of fishing vessels and regularly update the national fisheries database; Strengthen the management of fishing vessels, fishery public service ships, fishing ports, and fleets, and thoroughly handle the situation of unlicensed, unregistered, and uninspected fishing vessels; Strictly implement confirmation, certification, and traceability of exploited seafood. Ensuring the number of fishing vessels and fishing intensity is consistent with the reserves of aquatic resources in the sea areas; Supervise 100% of the exploited seafood output at sea and at ports. Ensure that there are no illegal seafood products exported abroad.

Strengthen and improve the capacity and sense of responsibility for fisheries surveillance forces and functional agencies managing fisheries activities and carrying out anti-IUU fishing work; Strengthen examination, inspection, supervision, and law enforcement, and thoroughly handle violations. Promptly investigate, prosecute, and strictly adjudicate cases of brokers connecting to take Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit foreign waters and legalize documents for export shipments; Organize peak dissemination, patrol, inspection, and control sessions.

Pay attention to investing in state resources; Encourage socialization and public-private cooperation to develop technical facilities and fisheries infrastructure. Promote the application of advanced science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation in aquaculture and seafood exploitation; Establish sustainable production chains and comprehensive ecosystems and create a favorable environment for the fisheries industry to develop in the long term, have a reputation and high competitiveness, deeply participate in the global supply chain, adapt to climate change, and be environmentally friendly.

At the same time, focus on preserving, protecting, and developing aquatic resources; Develop the fisheries industry associated with ensuring social security, sustainable livelihoods, and improving the material and spiritual lives of fishermen and related workers; Build defense and security battles at sea, contributing to firmly protecting the Fatherland's sea and island sovereignty.

4. Improve the effectiveness of international cooperation, especially with European countries and the EU; Strengthen diplomatic measures and enlist the support of relevant parties to soon remove the "yellow card" warning; and Do not let fishing vessels and fishermen illegally exploit foreign waters to avoid affecting relations with other countries. Vietnamese representative agencies abroad coordinate with domestic functional agencies to collect records, documents, judgments, and handling decisions of the host country against violating fishing vessels and fishermen to serve the work of investigation, handling, and citizen protection. Promptly fight diplomatically to prevent Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen not violating illegal fishing from being arrested and handled by foreign functional forces in overlapping, disputed, and undemarcated sea areas. Promote negotiations and the signing of demarcations of exclusive economic zones and continental shelves between Vietnam and other countries.

5. Organize the implementation

- Relevant Provincial Party Committees, City Party Committees, Party Committees, Party Unions, and Party Committees directly under the Central Government organize research, thoroughly grasp, and widely disseminate this Directive to officials, Party members, and the people; develop implementation programs and plans; organize examination, inspection, supervision, reward, and praise of collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements; consider responsibility and strictly handle violating organizations and individuals.

- The National Assembly Party Committee and the Government Party Committee lead and direct the review, amendment, and completion of the law on fisheries, ensuring unity, synchronization, and supervision of the implementation of the Directive.

- The Government Party Committee leads and directs the development of programs and plans, allocates resources for implementation, and regularly monitors, urges, checks, and inspects the implementation of the Directive.

- The Central Propaganda Department presides over and coordinates with the Party Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to direct and orient the work of disseminating the Directive.

- The Central Mass Mobilization Commission, the Party Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and mass associations promote the work of disseminating and mobilizing businesses and people to raise awareness and strictly comply with the Directive; inform and reflect cases of illegal fishing violations; improve the effectiveness of supervision and social criticism, contributing to the effective implementation of the Directive.

- The Party Committee of the Supreme People's Procuracy and the Party Committee of the Supreme People's Court lead, direct, and closely coordinate with relevant ministries, branches, and localities in organizing the implementation of the Directive.

- The Party Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development chairs and coordinates with the Central Economic Commission and relevant agencies to monitor, inspect, and urge implementation; periodically pre-review, summarize, and report to the Secretariat on the results of the implementation of this Directive.

This Directive is disseminated and thoroughly grasped by all party cells.