Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Concluding the 8thmeeting of the NationalSteering Committee on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) FishingPrevention and Control, the official also asked them to focus on mobilising resources for combatingIUU fishing following the direction of the PartyCentral Committee'sSecretariat, the Government,and the Prime Minister, and conclusions of the head of the National SteeringCommittee on IUU National Steering Committee, as well as related documents.
He underlined the need to resolutely handle organisations andindividuals who do not fulfill their responsibilities and tasks, andthose that violate legal regulations.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) must fulfillits role in inspecting, guiding, and urging coastal localities to comply with theEC’s provisions and recommendations on preventing IUU fishing. It also has to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in providingand sharing information to ensure the effective implementation of diplomaticactivities.
The ministry was demanded to perfect the Vietnam Fisheries database system(VNFishbase) and promote the application of information technology and softwarefor managing the entry and exit offishing vessels at ports to closely control their operation, and the installation of electronictraceability systems to monitor the transparency and legality for the origin of aquatic products for export.
The Ministry of Defence was asked to collaboratewith the MARD and the People’s Committees of coastal localities and relevantagencies to conduct a peak inspection patrol and deploy appropriate measures untilApril 30, 2024, to resolutely prevent, minimise, and move towards ending the infringementof fishing vessels in foreign waters.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Security will be responsible for directing localpolice to allocate forces for investigating, preventing, and handling acts of brokering and connecting fishingvessels and fishermen to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was required to direct the VietnameseEmbassies in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand to actively and promptly collectand provide information about fishing vessels and fishermen arrested and handledby foreign countries.
Chairpersons of the People's Committees of coastal localities will beresponsible for reviewing documents, and issuing decisions to completelypunish cases of violations.
The Deputy PM requested the establishment of local fisheries inspectionforces with sufficient capacity to carry out state management tasks related to seafoodexploitation and protection of aquatic resources following regulations of theLaw on Fisheries and the Law on Organisation of Government.
Relevant ministries, sectors, and localities weredemanded to enhance communications activities to widely popularise legal regulationson preventing IUU fishing, and raise legalcompliance awareness of coastal communities.
They will have to complete theassigned tasks on schedule, and report results to the MARD before the 15th ofeach month for reporting to the Prime Minister and the head of the National Steering Committee on IUUFishing Prevention and Control.
According to a report from the MARD, despite encouraging results, the fourthinspection session of EC’s inspection team from October 10-18 revealed somedrawbacks in Vietnam’s efforts to stop IUU fishingin waters outside Vietnam’s boundaries.
Illegal fishing in international waters continues to occur,law enforcement is yet to be concerted, and gaps remain in enforcement againstviolations.
The inspection team will conduct its 5th inspection at theend of the second quarter of 2024, the results of which will help decide whether the warning can be removed./.
VNA
