Investments

The Prime Minister Directs Strong Measures to Resolve the ‘IUU Yellow Card’

"The Prime Minister has made it clear that any province that fails to demonstrate a shift in their efforts to combat IUU fishing and continues to violate regulations will face consequences. The provincial Party Secretaries and Chairpersons will be held accountable to the Secretariat, the Government, and the Prime Minister for any shortcomings or failures to fulfill their assigned tasks."

Administrator

29 August, 2024

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers concluding remarks at the conference on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On the afternoon of August 28, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The conference was held via videoconference, connecting the Government Office with 28 coastal provinces. It was also attended by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan and representatives from relevant ministries, agencies, and local authorities.

Significant progress recognized by the EC

At the conference, delegates focused on evaluating the progress made in addressing the shortcomings and limitations identified by the European Commission (EC) after four inspection rounds. They also discussed the implementation of the Government and Prime Minister’s directives, as well as the instructions from the National Steering Committee for IUU Fishing.

The reports and opinions presented at the conference agreed that significant progress has been made in the past year since the EC’s fourth inspection round in October 2023. This progress has been recognized by the EC, and many of their requirements have been addressed.

The Politburo has issued Directive No. 32-CT/TW (dated April 10, 2024) on strengthening the Party’s leadership in the fight against IUU fishing. The Government has also issued Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP on April 22, 2024, adopting a program of action and plan to implement the Politburo’s Directive.

The Prime Minister has provided strong and resolute leadership, instructing relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to focus on addressing the shortcomings and limitations in the fight against IUU fishing. He has assigned specific tasks, set deadlines, and demanded results from each ministry, sector, and locality involved in this effort.

As a result, there has been a significant shift in the implementation of measures to combat IUU fishing, with tangible outcomes. The legal framework has been improved in line with the EC’s recommendations. Management of the fishing fleet, monitoring, control, and surveillance of fishing vessels have been strengthened. The implementation of regulations on traceability of seafood products has been rigorously reviewed and tightened since the fourth inspection round.

In terms of law enforcement, important results have been achieved. Notably, 11 criminal cases have been initiated, and three cases with signs of criminal violations are under investigation.

Remaining challenges and shortcomings

However, several challenges and shortcomings persist, and some tasks remain incomplete. These issues relate to fleet management, law enforcement, the connection of vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and instances of illegal fishing.

Investigating and prosecuting violations

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed with the reports and opinions presented regarding the achievements and the existing shortcomings and limitations.

Delving into the reasons behind these shortcomings, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to hold accountable the leaders of relevant sectors, levels, agencies, and localities if they fail to strictly follow the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws on combating IUU fishing. He also pointed out a lack of resolute leadership, inadequate attention, and insufficient inspection, supervision, and monitoring as contributing factors.

The Prime Minister clearly stated the goal of removing the EC’s “yellow card” warning during the fifth inspection round, expected to take place in October 2024. He affirmed that the goal of combating IUU fishing and lifting the “yellow card” has strong political, legal, and practical foundations.

The Prime Minister instructed relevant ministries, sectors, and localities, along with functional forces, Party committees, and authorities at all levels, especially at the grassroots level, to strongly promote their roles and responsibilities. He called on them to foster a sense of patriotism and care for the people, unify their understanding, and focus their leadership and direction on taking resolute actions to combat IUU fishing. He also urged them to promptly address shortcomings and limitations, focusing on three key tasks.

Prime Minister assigns tasks to ministries and sectors – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Firstly, they must closely monitor and strictly manage fishing fleets to prevent IUU violations and decisively handle “three no” vessels (those with no registration, no inspection, and no license). Secondly, they should review and strictly handle collectives and individuals who violate Party regulations and State laws. Administrative violations should be handled administratively, while criminal violations must be processed through the criminal justice system. Thirdly, they need to intensify inspections, supervision, and monitoring, as well as traceability of seafood products, and take action if any violations are detected.

Regarding specific tasks, the Prime Minister requested that leaders of relevant central ministries, sectors, and localities continue to thoroughly and resolutely implement the contents, tasks, and directives of the Politburo’s Directive No. 32-CT/TW and the Government’s Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP. They should effectively combine propaganda and mobilization with the strict application of the provisions of the Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HĐTP dated June 12, 2024, of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People’s Court, providing guidance on the application of several provisions of the Penal Code regarding the prosecution of crimes related to illegal fishing, buying, selling, and transporting aquatic products.

The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense were assigned to coordinate with localities to investigate, initiate legal proceedings, prosecute, and strictly handle 100% of cases related to sending fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally fish in foreign waters. They should also handle cases involving the disconnection, sending, and transportation of VMS equipment, as well as brokerage and collusion, in accordance with the provisions of Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HĐTP.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (the standing agency of the National Steering Committee for IUU Fishing) was tasked with organizing working groups to inspect and supervise the implementation of regulations on combating IUU fishing. They should also monitor, urge, and guide the implementation of tasks related to IUU fishing and propose to the Government and the Prime Minister measures to strictly handle organizations, individuals, and functional forces that fail to fulfill their assigned responsibilities or collude with IUU fishing activities. Additionally, they should coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to thoroughly prepare the program, plan, and content for the fifth working session with the EC’s inspection delegation. They must also prepare comprehensive plans to ensure the best outcomes and avoid any passivity or unexpected situations that could affect the efforts to remove the “yellow card” warning.

The Ministry of National Defense was instructed to continue enhancing patrols, inspections, and controls in border sea areas to prevent and promptly handle fishing vessels showing signs of illegal fishing in foreign waters. They should also direct border guard forces in the provinces to strictly implement the task of controlling the exit and entry of fishing vessels at ports. Disciplinary measures must be imposed on border guard stations that allow fishing vessels that do not meet the requirements to exit and engage in fishing activities, as well as on functional forces under their control that collude with IUU fishing activities.

The Ministry of Public Security was instructed to direct public security forces to promptly investigate, prosecute, and handle organizations and individuals involved in brokering and colluding with sending fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally fish in foreign waters. They should also handle cases of sending VMS equipment on other fishing vessels to engage in illegal fishing activities. In coordination with relevant localities, they must continue to investigate and strictly handle, in accordance with the law, organizations and individuals involved in the legalization of dossiers for export batches to the European market, which were detected by the EC during the fourth inspection round in October 2023.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was tasked with instructing Vietnamese embassies in relevant countries to promptly collect information when local authorities detect and handle Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen violating illegal fishing regulations. This information should be provided to functional forces in the country for investigation and strict handling in accordance with regulations.

The Ministry of Justice was requested to urgently study and advise on supplementing the authority to handle administrative violations in the field of fisheries for heads of sub-departments under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that are in charge of state management of fisheries or perform tasks and functions related to fisheries inspection, completing the task and reporting to the Prime Minister in September 2024.

The Ministry of Information and Communications was assigned to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to clarify the responsibilities and strictly handle units providing VMS equipment and satellite services for VMS equipment on fishing vessels that do not meet the requirements. If the violation is due to the fault of the providing unit, they must compensate for any damages incurred by the people.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment were instructed to continue prioritizing and allocating funds and resources in accordance with regulations to relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to implement tasks related to combating IUU fishing, removing the “yellow card” warning, and promoting the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan speaks at the conference – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Reviewing and strictly handling violations

The Prime Minister requested that secretaries and chairpersons of the People’s Committees of coastal provinces and centrally-run cities directly lead and ensure the completion of several tasks.

Firstly, they should review all violations of IUU fishing regulations since the fourth inspection round, focusing on cases of disconnection, sending, and transportation of VMS equipment, and crossing sea boundaries. They should continue to investigate, clarify, and strictly handle these cases, completing the task and reporting the results in September 2024.

Secondly, they need to concentrate the maximum resources (human resources, funds, equipment, and means) and reinforce local forces, especially at the grassroots level (commune/ward/township), in coordination with border guard and public security forces. They should combine propaganda and mobilization with timely prevention and handling of violations from an early stage, especially in key localities such as Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Binh Dinh, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces.

Thirdly, localities where violations of illegal fishing in foreign waters continue to occur must organize self-criticism sessions and clearly identify the responsibilities of leaders of agencies and functional forces. They should complete this task and report the results to the Prime Minister in September 2024.

They were also instructed to urgently complete the management of fishing fleets, including registration, inspection, granting of fishing licenses, vessel marking, granting of certificates for establishments meeting food safety and hygiene conditions for fishing vessels, and handling of “three no” vessels. They should handle the responsibilities of organizations and individuals involved in delays in granting fishing licenses to fishing vessels as prescribed.

The Prime Minister requested strict control over the exit and entry of fishing vessels at ports and the monitoring of fishing output. He emphasized the need to strictly handle the management boards of fishing ports and the offices of fisheries inspection and control at the ports if they allow fishing vessels violating IUU regulations to enter and exit ports and unload seafood products without verification and handling in accordance with regulations.

He also asked for continued scrutiny and strict implementation of regulations on confirmation and certification of traceability for seafood products. Criminal handling must be applied to acts of legalizing dossiers for export batches to the European market.

Involvement of associations and enterprises

The Prime Minister suggested that the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers and seafood enterprises strictly comply with regulations on combating IUU fishing. They should strictly prohibit the purchase, processing, and export of seafood products of unknown origin or those sourced from IUU fishing activities. Any collusion with organizations or individuals involved in legalizing dossiers for seafood products violating IUU regulations for export to the European market must also be strictly prohibited. Enterprises should actively coordinate with relevant authorities in investigating, verifying, and strictly and thoroughly handling organizations, individuals, and seafood enterprises engaging in illegal activities, legalizing dossiers, or colluding with IUU fishing.

The Vietnam Fisheries Society was requested to continue its companionship and actively mobilize its members to set good examples in complying with regulations on preventing and combating IUU fishing. They should also timely encourage exemplary individuals and good deeds and promptly denounce and report any acts of IUU fishing.

The Prime Minister noted that, along with strictly implementing the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, it is necessary to promote sustainable livelihoods for the people, such as shifting from fishing to seafood farming. He also emphasized the importance of propagating and mobilizing the people to raise their awareness and sense of responsibility towards the country, their homeland, and themselves. He cautioned against short-sighted gains that could compromise long-term interests and against individual or local interests that could undermine the common good. He added that the resolute handling of violations and the fight against illegal fishing are for the benefit of fishermen and the country. He called for stronger involvement of Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and central and local media outlets in propagating and mobilizing the people.

The Prime Minister requested that relevant ministries, sectors, and localities prepare plans, programs, and content for the fifth working session with the EC’s inspection delegation. They should also prepare comprehensive plans to ensure the best outcomes and avoid any passivity or unexpected situations that could affect the efforts to remove the “yellow card” warning. He emphasized the importance of ensuring a successful reception and working session with the EC delegation to achieve the goal of removing the “yellow card” warning.

“If any locality fails to make progress in implementing tasks to combat IUU fishing in the coming time and continues to have violations, and if assigned tasks are not completed, the secretaries of provincial and municipal Party committees and the chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must take responsibility before the Politburo, the Government, and the Prime Minister, as directed in the Politburo’s Directive No. 32-CT/TW and the Government’s Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP,” the Prime Minister stressed.

Nhat Quang