The workshop was organized by the Directorate of Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the US Embassy, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the US Department of State.
This workshop in Da Nang followed the success of a series of regional workshops on combating IUU that were previously held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2022 and Cebu, Philippines in May 2023.
According to the Organizing Committee of the workshop, Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is one of the most significant threats to marine ecosystems and sustainable fisheries.
Each year, the volume of fish caught through IUU activities is estimated to be 20 million tons, which severely impacts the livelihoods of fishermen, particularly coastal communities, exacerbating poverty and contributing to food insecurity at national, regional, and global levels.
Through continuous efforts in recent times, Vietnam has achieved notable results in combating IUU fishing. The most significant are the high consensus and decisive action among all levels, sectors, fishing communities, and enterprises, as well as societyโs agreement on implementing legal regulations and measures against IUU fishing.
At the same time, Vietnam has established a comprehensive legal framework for responsible fisheries management and combating IUU fishing according to international standards on the responsibilities of coastal states, flag states, and port states. The management of fishing vessels has transformed significantly from a situation where the number of fishing vessels, registrations, and licenses was not accurately known, and their whereabouts were unknown, to one where a national database on fishing vessels connecting from the central to local levels has been established and operated. This database provides access for law enforcement agencies and port authorities to monitor fishing vessel activities.
In particular, over 97.65% of offshore fishing vessels (15 meters or longer) have been equipped with vessel monitoring systems (VMS). Traceability of fishery products is implemented and controlled throughout the chain, from catch monitoring at ports to issuing export certificates and monitoring raw materials at processing plants.
Vietnam has also established a national database on administrative sanctions in the fisheries sector from the central to the local level for law enforcement forces such as the Border Guard and Coast Guard to create consolidated data serving law enforcement efforts. Consequently, the number of vessels violating foreign waters has significantly decreased since 2015.
Speaking at the opening session of the workshop, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Peopleโs Committee Tran Chi Cuong affirmed that Vietnam has always considered sustainable fisheries development as the foundation for addressing IUU fishing. Thus, in recent times, Vietnam has developed and implemented comprehensive strategies and development plans in the fields of fishing, aquaculture, and protection, conservation, and development of fisheries resources, with the aim of building and developing a sustainable and responsible fisheries industry.
Emphasizing the responsibility to combat IUU fishing, Mr. Cuong said: โVietnam pays special attention to building and developing a sustainable and responsible fisheries industry, market-oriented, environmentally friendly, protecting, restoring, and developing fisheries resources, conserving biodiversity, adapting to climate change, ensuring disease safety, biosecurity, and social security; implementing a comprehensive plan with specific goals and solutions throughout the system, from the central to local levels, especially coastal localities, with the active participation of authorities at all levels, organizations, fishing communities, and fisheries associations and enterprises to combat IUU fishing.โ
However, according to Mr. Cuong, combating IUU fishing requires the cooperation and efforts of the international community, particularly close collaboration among law enforcement agencies in the region. Therefore, Vietnam highly appreciates the US initiative to create a forum connecting fisheries law enforcement agencies through a series of regional workshops on combating IUU fishing to strengthen cooperation among member countries in the region and establish a network with fisheries enforcement agencies in other countries to enhance law enforcement against IUU fishing.
This event also enhances cooperation among member countries in the region through the exchange and sharing of updates on global trends in the fight against IUU, challenges in regional fisheries, initiatives to strengthen information sharing, an overview of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and tools for monitoring, controlling, and surveillance of fishing vessels (MCS).
It is also an opportunity for IUU fishing law enforcement agencies to share challenges and best practices in combating IUU fishing, especially in strengthening bilateral cooperation in fisheries law enforcement to combat IUU more effectively.
