Vietnam is taking urgent measures to prevent Vietnamese fishing vessels from illegally fishing in the waters of the Pacific islands (Photo: VNA)Hanoi(VNA) - The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) hasurged seafood processors, importers and exporters to participate in the fightagainst illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
This is an important step to stop Vietnamese seafood from being warned orprohibited from importing to key markets such as the European Union and theUnited States.
According to VASEP, Vietnam could be fined by the EU with a "yellowcard" if it does not promptly and fully adhere to EU’s requirements onfighting IUU fishing, which are related to the five recommendations made bythe Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE)’sworking group during the reviewed period of May 15-19, 2017, in Vietnam.
If a country is subject to a yellow card (an official EU warning), it willcreate nervousness among EU retailers in connection with seafood imported fromthat country, and they may substitute the seafood from that particular country.If the country is fined with a red card, its seafood products will beprohibited from import into the EU.
The IUU regulation applies to all vessels of EU or the third country at EUports and all seafood products imported to or exported from EU countries. Thisregulation is to ensure that no illegally harvested fishery products enter theEU market.
VASEP said its members were aware of the importance of the IUU regulations andrelevance for seafood businesses, and realised that the fight against IUUwould be a long-term process that needed active and regular participation ofseafood businesses.
VASEP members said it is necessary to set up a management board for seafoodbusinesses to fight against IUU fishing.
[Gov’t to prevent fishing in foreign waters]
EU played a leading role in the global fight against IUU fishing. The IUUregulation came into effect of October 1, 2010, aiming to ensure that onlyseafood products certified by the national authorised body or exporting countryare imported to or exported from EU.
The list of IUU fishing vessels will be regularly updated, which are definedby the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).
Deputy Head of the Directorate of Fisheries’ Technology Science and InternationalCo-operation Department Nguyen Thi Trang Nhungtold nonnghiep.vn newspaper that 24 countries and territorieshad received penalty cards under the IUU regulation, including countries andterritories with modern fishing fleets, of which 13 nations had their penaltycards withdrawn thanks to improved management systems, including Ghana,Guinea, Panama and Papua New Guinea, as well as the Philippines, the Republicof Korea and Sri Lanka.
Of the remainder, three nations were given red cards - Cambodia, Conmoros, andSaint Vincent and Grenadines - and eight nations and territories were givenyellow cards, including Siera Leone, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, andTuvalu.
As for the role of State management, Nhung said relevant agencies were takingurgent measures to prevent Vietnamese fishing vessels from illegally fishing inthe waters of the Pacific islands. It would focus on strengthening controllingmeasures at ports in localities, increasing inspection and expanding thenetwork of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for large vessels.
“The Vietnamese agencies will strengthen co-operation on fighting IUU fishingwith countries in the region and the Pacific islands and join the Food andAgriculture Organisation’s Agreement on Port State Measures and theUN Fish Stocks Agreement," she said.-VNA
VNA
