Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries under theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Tran Dinh Luan said theinspectors will work with Ho Chi Minh City and several provinces from November5, arrive in Hanoi on November 9, and hold working sessions with theDirectorate of Fisheries from November 11-13.
On November 14, they will report the outcomes of theirinspections to Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, who is also head of theNational Steering Committee on IUU fishing.
So far, 28 coastal cities and provinces have prepared agendafor working sessions with the team.
Since the EC issued “yellow card” warning to Vietnam twoyears ago, the country has fine-tuned the Law on Fisheries 2017, two decreesand one decision of the Prime Minister, and eight circulars guiding the enforcementof the Law on Fisheries by the MARD.
Over 31,500 fishing vessels have been experimentally equippedwith journey monitor systems.
Since 2018, the MARD has sent about 20 inspection teams tolocalities to work and guide them how to fight IUU fishing.
The Mekong Delta provinces of Binh Thuan, Tien Giang, BenTre, Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Ca Mau and Kien Giang have signed acooperation agreement in a bid to have the EC’s warning lifted.
Up to 27 out of the 28 coastal provinces have establishedoffices to control fishing in 60 ports and launched an initiative on preventingIUU fishing in ASEAN for the 2020 – 2025 period, as well as supported theASEAN’s Initiative on the establishment of IUU fishing combat network funded bythe European Union.
Authorities have also worked with six countries to verifythe origins of aquatic products exported to the EU.
The list of violating fishing vessels and owners has beenannounced on the mass media on a weekly basis, with fines amounting to nearly 7billion VND (304,000 USD)./.