Vietnam’s Efforts to remove EC’s IUU Yellow Card
The European Commission (EC) Inspection Team is scheduled to conduct the 5th inspection on Vietnam’s compliance with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations later this month. Recently the Vietnamese government, ministries, and localities have implemented many solutions to make visible changes in the fight against IUU fishing, aiming to have the “yellow card” removed during the EC’s upcoming inspection.
During the 4th inspection, the EC delegation acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts to comply with recommendations made during previous inspections.
Many solutions to effect practical changes
Since the EC’s 4th inspection, all 28 of Vietnam’s coastal provinces and cities have implemented solutions to carry out the EC’s recommendations. They have managed fishing boats, connected cruise monitoring equipment, overseen fishing ports and wharves, enhanced communications and training on IUU fishing regulations, and asked fishermen to sign commitments not to violate the regulations. IUU fishing violators have been strictly dealt with.
Recently the number of fishing boats violating foreign seafood exploitation waters has decreased significantly. Since the beginning of the year, Kien Giang province, which has a large fishing fleet, has not detected any IUU fishing violations.
Fishermen Nguyen Van Dung said: “I always tell other fisherman to strictly comply with the regulations and follow all instructions. When fishing, we don’t travel near the demarcation line and we keep our cruise monitoring equipment turned on around the clock. If anything happens, we promptly notify the local authorities.”
Fisherman Pham Tien Thinh said: “When offshore, we fully comply with the law. If you register four people, four people must go. We must have sufficient on-board equipment, turn on the monitoring equipment 24 hours a day, send a message every day, stay out of foreign waters, and comply with all regulations.”
Determined to have the “yellow card” removed after the 5th inspection
Before the inspection, the EC representative will hold an online meeting with Vietnam, focused on implementation of the recommendations made during the previous inspection.
Nguyen Quang Hung, Director of the Vietnam Fisheries Resource Surveillance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that in addition to strengthening punishments on fishing boats violating foreign waters, the EC is very interested in the management of fishing boats entering and leaving ports and the traceability of exploited seafood.
“Fisheries law enforcement forces will strengthen inspection, control, and handling of violations, and patrol border areas to prevent Vietnamese fishing vessels from violating foreign waters and foreign vessels from violating Vietnamese waters. We are determined that in April Vietnam will obtain significant results to get the yellow card removed,” said Hung.
Lieutenant General Bui Quoc Oai, Political Commissar of the Vietnam Coast Guard, said: “Functional forces and local authorities have strong determination. We are strict with violators and at the same time, educate, explain, and ask people to better comply with regulations. After disciplining violators, we create conditions for them to continue going out to sea.”
Vietnam’s goal is to get the “yellow card” removed during the EC’s 5th inspection. This would improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese seafood in the international market.
