The Party Central Committee Secretariat Releases Directive on Combating IUU Fishing and Promoting Sustainable Fisheries Development
On April 22, 2024, the Party Central Committee Secretariat convened an online and in-person conference to promulgate and implement Directive No. 32-CT/TW of April 10, 2024, on strengthening the Party’s leadership in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries development.
The conference was co-chaired by Mrs. Truong Thi Mai, Member of the Politburo, Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, and Head of the Central Organization Committee; Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Secretary of the Central Party, Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Mr. Tran Luu Quang, Deputy Prime Minister; and Mr. Le Minh Hoan, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Government Action Plan
During the conference, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan highlighted that Vietnam’s fisheries sector is not yet sustainable and has not removed the “yellow card” warning from the European Commission (EC). The implementation of a comprehensive management and monitoring system for fishing vessels, updating the national fishing vessel database, tracing the origin of seafood, establishing a seafood production chain linking fishermen, businesses, and authorities, and addressing violations are still limited.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang presented the government’s Action Plan and roadmap for implementing the Secretariat’s Directive No. 32-CT/TW on strengthening the Party’s leadership in combating IUU fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries development.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, seven priority tasks and solutions must be implemented by May 2024 to combat IUU fishing and remove the “yellow card” warning.
1. Finalize legal regulations related to combating IUU fishing to eliminate “3-without” fishing vessels.
2. Enhance law enforcement capacity, prosecute IUU fishing violations, and specifically target brokers and collaborators who facilitate the illegal fishing activities of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen in foreign waters.
3. Implement fishery laws in a consistent and stringent manner, ensuring that fishing vessel management, monitoring of fishing activities at sea, in ports, and during port entry and exit comply with legal regulations.
4. Strictly enforce Vietnamese and international laws and regulations on the certification and traceability of harvested seafood, ensuring that no illegal seafood products are exported abroad.
5. Thoroughly investigate, verify, and prosecute all IUU fishing activities without exception, decisively preventing and ending the illegal fishing of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen in foreign waters.
6. Regarding international cooperation, enhance diplomatic measures, seek the support of relevant parties, and promptly remove the “yellow card” warning; prevent Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen from engaging in illegal fishing in foreign waters, as this can affect relations with other countries. Respond promptly to diplomatic disputes involving Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen who are not engaged in illegal fishing but are apprehended and prosecuted by foreign authorities in overlapping or disputed maritime areas with other countries.
7. Intensify communication and education campaigns on IUU prevention and control.
5 Long-Term Tasks and Solutions
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang also outlined five long-term tasks and solutions for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector. These include continuing to review and perfect policies and laws in the fisheries sector.
Implementing robust solutions to transition to alternative occupations and develop sustainable industries, promoting marine aquaculture, and reducing the dependence on fishing for fishermen; ensuring the number of fishing vessels and fishing intensity are commensurate with the stock of fishery resources in different sea areas; and improving livelihoods and enhancing the well-being of coastal and island fishing communities.
Strengthening, upgrading, and providing mechanisms and policies for law enforcement agencies, fisheries inspection forces from the central to local levels, and relevant functional agencies to effectively manage and enforce fisheries regulations.
Prioritizing investment in the development of fisheries infrastructure and technical facilities; promoting industrialization, modernization; applying advanced science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation for the long-term development of the fisheries sector, in conjunction with ensuring social security and contributing to the firm protection of maritime sovereignty.
Enhancing international cooperation on fisheries, negotiating and demarcating exclusive economic zones and continental shelves between Vietnam and other countries, resolving maritime disputes; searching for and rescuing those in distress, ensuring the security and safety of fishermen operating at sea; fully implementing Vietnam’s international responsibilities and obligations in fulfilling international commitments and conventions on the protection of the oceans, environment, marine ecosystems, and fishery resources.
In her address to the conference, Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat Truong Thi Mai stated: “I believe that not only today but since 2017, when we received the ‘yellow card’ warning from the EC, we have recognized the negative consequences of this issue for the long-term development of the fisheries sector.”
“Since then, our understanding has deepened day by day, from the Party committees and Party organizations to the political system, the directly affected localities, and even the fishermen and workers directly involved. Our actions have also become more immediate and vigorous, and we have realized that only with sufficient awareness can we have sufficient action and determination to carry out the goals, tasks, and solutions outlined in Directive No. 32, especially the highly ambitious target of removing the ‘yellow card’ in 2024,” emphasized Ms. Truong Thi Mai.
Ms. Truong Thi Mai highlighted four key areas that require attention to address the IUU “yellow card”: (i) continuing to improve the legal framework; (ii) managing and monitoring the fishing vessel fleet; (iii) certifying the traceability of seafood; and (iv) effectively enforcing the law.
Additionally, Ms. Truong Thi Mai suggested that Vietnam could learn from the experiences of Thailand, the Philippines, and other countries while taking into account the differences in each country’s circumstances.
The Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat stressed: “During the implementation process, we must focus on building consensus, providing support and encouragement to the people and workers involved; and most importantly, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of fishermen. Only then will fishermen trust and cooperate with the Party and government to effectively implement the objectives of the Directive.”
According to Ms. Truong Thi Mai, removing the EC’s “yellow card” is only the first step. In the long run, Vietnam must focus on ensuring transparency in fishing operations and sustainable livelihoods for its people to achieve sustainable fisheries development. Despite the challenges ahead, if we act comprehensively and decisively, we will achieve our goals.
