Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Xuan Cuong (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has been active in implementing nine recommendations related to the fight against illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing of the European Commission (EC) toensure responsible and sustainable fisheries, said Minister of Agriculture andRural Development (MARD) Nguyen Xuan Cuong.
Cuong gave the information at a working session with representatives from theDirectorate of Fisheries on May 14, which was to review achievements of thecountry in dealing with the EC’s "yellow card" warning to Vietnam, andto prepare for a working trip by a delegation of the EC Directorate-General forMaritime Affairs and Fisheries, which will start on May 15, to inspect and measureefforts of Vietnam in the work.
Contents mentioned in the recommendations were included in the revised Law on on Fisheries, which will come intoeffect in 2019, Cuong added, stressing that this a great step that Vietnam has done so far, towards buildingsustainable and responsible fisheries industry and improving the income for localfishermen, Cuong stressed.
He affirmed departments under the MARD will work with the delegation in thespirit of highest responsibility, transparency and publicity, focusing on clarifyingwhat have been done by Vietnam so that the EC can verify.
It is necessary to show achievements made by thecountry in the work, while listening to the EU’s suggestions, towards devising aspecific action programme to overcome shortcomings in the coming time, he noted.
Cuong also underlined the need to reassess infrastructure facilities serving sustainablefisheries development such as wharfs, fishing ports and anchorages, thus makingrecommendations to the Government.
Attention should also be paid to reviewing the application of high technologiesand information technology in managing fishing ships and fishing grounds, inorder to ensure a modern fisheries sector, he said.
According to Nguyen Ngoc Oai, acting General Directorof the Directorate of Fisheries, the delegation will work with representativesof the MARD and those from coastal localities, seafood producers, the MARD’sDepartment of Animal Health and National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries QualityAssurance Department.
The Directorate of Fisheries set up an IUUoffice, which will provide all relevant documents to serve the working sessionswith the delegation, Oai said.
A fishery database system has been launched, henoted, adding that this is an important measure to better the management ofoffshore fishing activities.
On October 23, 2017, the EC issued a "yellowcard" warning to Vietnam, after the country failed to demonstratesufficient progress in the fight against IUU fishing worldwide. Though themeasure was considered a warning, which would not technically affect the ECtrade policy, the Vietnamese fishing industry was concerned that the yellowcard would seriously harm the reputation of Vietnamese seafood worldwide, thusweakening sales.
The nine recommendations included revision of thelegal framework to ensure compliance with international and regional rulesapplicable to the conservation and management of fisheries resources, ensuringthe effective implementation and enforcement of the country’s revised laws, andstrengthening the effective implementation of international rules andmanagement measures.
According to EC’s requirement, the Vietnamese seafood sector had to implementnine recommendations in six months from October 23, 2017, to April 23, 2018.
The EC also wanted Vietnam to issue sanctions andincrease the level of sanctions against IUU fishing, which should be written inthe revised Law on Fisheries, and give concrete evidence proving Vietnam’sefforts in the fight against IUU fishing.
On April 20, Vietnam submitted a report on itsefforts to address IUU fishing to the EC. The delegation’s upcoming inspectionis to assess local IUU fishing prevention.-VNA
Cuong gave the information at a working session with representatives from theDirectorate of Fisheries on May 14, which was to review achievements of thecountry in dealing with the EC’s "yellow card" warning to Vietnam, andto prepare for a working trip by a delegation of the EC Directorate-General forMaritime Affairs and Fisheries, which will start on May 15, to inspect and measureefforts of Vietnam in the work.
Contents mentioned in the recommendations were included in the revised Law on on Fisheries, which will come intoeffect in 2019, Cuong added, stressing that this a great step that Vietnam has done so far, towards buildingsustainable and responsible fisheries industry and improving the income for localfishermen, Cuong stressed.
He affirmed departments under the MARD will work with the delegation in thespirit of highest responsibility, transparency and publicity, focusing on clarifyingwhat have been done by Vietnam so that the EC can verify.
It is necessary to show achievements made by thecountry in the work, while listening to the EU’s suggestions, towards devising aspecific action programme to overcome shortcomings in the coming time, he noted.
Cuong also underlined the need to reassess infrastructure facilities serving sustainablefisheries development such as wharfs, fishing ports and anchorages, thus makingrecommendations to the Government.
Attention should also be paid to reviewing the application of high technologiesand information technology in managing fishing ships and fishing grounds, inorder to ensure a modern fisheries sector, he said.
According to Nguyen Ngoc Oai, acting General Directorof the Directorate of Fisheries, the delegation will work with representativesof the MARD and those from coastal localities, seafood producers, the MARD’sDepartment of Animal Health and National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries QualityAssurance Department.
The Directorate of Fisheries set up an IUUoffice, which will provide all relevant documents to serve the working sessionswith the delegation, Oai said.
A fishery database system has been launched, henoted, adding that this is an important measure to better the management ofoffshore fishing activities.
On October 23, 2017, the EC issued a "yellowcard" warning to Vietnam, after the country failed to demonstratesufficient progress in the fight against IUU fishing worldwide. Though themeasure was considered a warning, which would not technically affect the ECtrade policy, the Vietnamese fishing industry was concerned that the yellowcard would seriously harm the reputation of Vietnamese seafood worldwide, thusweakening sales.
The nine recommendations included revision of thelegal framework to ensure compliance with international and regional rulesapplicable to the conservation and management of fisheries resources, ensuringthe effective implementation and enforcement of the country’s revised laws, andstrengthening the effective implementation of international rules andmanagement measures.
According to EC’s requirement, the Vietnamese seafood sector had to implementnine recommendations in six months from October 23, 2017, to April 23, 2018.
The EC also wanted Vietnam to issue sanctions andincrease the level of sanctions against IUU fishing, which should be written inthe revised Law on Fisheries, and give concrete evidence proving Vietnam’sefforts in the fight against IUU fishing.
On April 20, Vietnam submitted a report on itsefforts to address IUU fishing to the EC. The delegation’s upcoming inspectionis to assess local IUU fishing prevention.-VNA
VNA
