Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concludes the conference on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing – Photo: VGP |
The announcement states that, up to this point, the implementation of measures against IUU fishing has seen positive changes and concrete results. However, many tasks remain unfinished, and some issues and limitations have not been thoroughly addressed, especially the recommendations made by the EC. Specifically:
The situation of disconnecting vessel monitoring system (VMS) devices has not been effectively prevented and continues to occur on a large scale. Vessels operating outside designated areas is a frequent occurrence, and the quality of fishing logs is unreliable due to a lack of checking, monitoring, and handling of violations as per regulations. The proportion of domestically caught aquatic products under supervision for traceability purposes remains very low.
The registration and issuance of fishing licenses for all vessels have not been completed, and there is a lack of control and resolution regarding vessels that are “three withouts”: without registration, without inspection, and without fishing licenses.
Some organizations and individuals have neglected their management responsibilities, allowing vessels to enter and exit ports and wharves without ensuring compliance with procedures, paperwork, and equipment requirements for fishing activities, leading to IUU fishing violations. There have also been instances of legalization of confirmation and certification of the origin of domestically caught and imported aquatic products for export to the European market.
The causes of the aforementioned issues and limitations are not only due to the awareness of the people but also the lack of spirit and responsibility of some organizations and individuals who have not fulfilled their assigned duties. Leaders of sectors and levels have lacked decisiveness in leadership, direction, and management, showing insufficient attention, inspection, supervision, and monitoring. There have also been cases of collusion and assistance provided by law enforcement forces for IUU fishing activities. If we do not urgently address the current issues and limitations and seriously implement the regulations against IUU fishing, removing the “yellow card” warning will be very challenging and may even lead to an escalation to a “red card” warning.
Focus on ending illegal fishing by vessels in foreign waters
To achieve the goal of removing the “yellow card” warning after the fifth inspection by the EC delegation (expected in October 2024), the Prime Minister requests that leaders of central and local branches, ministries, and sectors related to fishing unanimously recognize, focus on leading, directing, and taking strong actions to perform the task of combating IUU fishing. They must also urgently complete the resolution of existing issues and limitations, focusing on the following key tasks and solutions:
Prioritize allocating resources to prevent and put an end to illegal fishing by vessels in foreign waters, especially in the provinces of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Binh Dinh. Strengthen the presence of public security and border forces in collaboration with local authorities (commune/ward/town) in key areas to both promote propaganda and mobilize and timely detect and prevent, from an early stage, vessels and fishermen with intentions of engaging in illegal fishing in foreign waters.
Resolutely punish organizations and individuals who, for short-term gains, disregard long-term benefits and put personal interests before collective and national interests, affecting the country’s efforts to remove the “yellow card” warning.
Assign the Ministries of Public Security and National Defense to proactively coordinate with local authorities to investigate, initiate legal proceedings, prosecute, and judge all cases related to sending vessels and fishermen to engage in illegal fishing in foreign waters; disconnecting, sending, and transporting VMS devices; brokering and colluding; and other serious violations as stipulated in Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HĐTP.
Comrades who are ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, secretaries of provincial and municipal party committees, and chairmen of the People’s Committees of coastal provinces and centrally-run cities shall be held accountable before the Politburo, the Government, and the Prime Minister for their leadership, direction, and implementation of tasks related to combating IUU fishing in their respective units. They shall also be held responsible if violations continue to occur and assigned tasks remain unaccomplished in the future.
Continue to organize inter-sectoral working groups to inspect the deployment of regulations against IUU fishing
The Prime Minister assigns the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing) to review and complete legal documents related to combating IUU fishing to create a sufficient, uniform, strict, and feasible legal basis for the prevention and control of IUU fishing. The deadline for completion and reporting to the Prime Minister is December 31, 2024.
Continue to organize inter-sectoral working groups (led by a leader of the ministry) to inspect, supervise, and monitor the deployment of regulations against IUU fishing; follow up, urge, and guide localities to implement tasks related to combating IUU fishing; and periodically report to the Prime Minister on a monthly basis.
Take the lead, in coordination with ministries, sectors, and localities, in carefully preparing the overall program, plan, and content for the fifth working session with the EC delegation; and thoroughly prepare plans to ensure the best outcomes and avoid passivity and unexpected situations that may affect the country’s efforts to remove the “yellow card” warning.
The Ministry of National Defense shall decide on the establishment of a specialized working group to prevent and resolutely handle the situation of Vietnamese vessels engaging in illegal fishing in foreign waters. Focus on directing and strengthening patrols, inspections, and controls in sea areas bordering Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and other countries to timely prevent and handle vessels showing signs of illegal fishing in foreign waters.
The Ministry of Public Security shall direct the public security forces and the public security branches in 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities to promptly investigate and prosecute organizations and individuals involved in brokering and colluding to send vessels and fishermen to engage in illegal fishing in foreign waters and violating the installation, management, and use of VMS devices for illegal fishing as stipulated in Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HĐTP dated June 12, 2024, of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People’s Court.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct Vietnamese embassies in relevant countries to promptly collect information about cases of Vietnamese vessels and fishermen detained by the host country for illegal fishing and provide this information to the competent authorities in a timely manner.
The Ministries of Finance and Planning and Investment shall continue to prioritize and allocate funds and capital as prescribed to ministries, sectors, and localities to implement tasks related to combating IUU fishing, removing the “yellow card” warning, investing in and upgrading fisheries infrastructure, and promoting the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.
Resolutely punish all cases of violations
The Prime Minister requests that secretaries of provincial and municipal party committees and chairmen of the People’s Committees of coastal provinces and centrally-run cities directly lead and direct the completion of the following tasks:
Review all cases of IUU fishing violations since the fourth EC inspection until now, focusing on handling cases of disconnecting, sending, and transporting VMS devices; crossing sea boundaries; brokering and colluding; and illegal fishing in foreign waters. Continue to investigate, clarify, and resolutely punish all cases of violations; complete and report the results to the Prime Minister in September 2024.
Maximize the mobilization of resources (human resources, funds, equipment, and means of transport), mobilize and strengthen local forces, especially local authorities (commune/ward/town) in key areas, in coordination with border guards and public security forces to both promote propaganda and mobilize and timely prevent and handle, from an early stage, vessels and fishermen with intentions of violating regulations, especially in the provinces of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Binh Dinh, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau.
Provinces such as Kien Giang, Binh Dinh, and Ca Mau, where cases of local vessels violating regulations by engaging in illegal fishing in foreign waters have continued to occur since the beginning of 2024, shall organize a serious review to clearly identify the responsibilities of leaders of relevant agencies and forces; complete and report the results to the Prime Minister in September 2024.
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