Vietnam renews determination to fight IUU fishing

Increasing fishermen’s awareness to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has resulted in positive changes over the past 6 years since the European Commission issued the yellow card for Vietnamese fishing practices, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien at a recent online conference in Hanoi.

“Lifting the EC’s yellow card and tackling IUU fishing isn’t solely the job of Fisheries Surveillance forces and units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It’s a collective duty across the political system to safeguard Vietnam’s global standing, promote socio-economic progress, ensure sustainable fisheries, and support fishermen’s livelihoods, Mr. Tien said.

“The entire political system will engage in fighting IUU fishing. Directive No. 32 of the Secretariat is a big move against illegal fishing.”

The Standing Committee of the Secretariat will work with 28 coastal provinces to ensure everyone’s on board with core forces being fisheries surveillance, border guard, navy, and coast guard. “We’re hopeful the yellow card will be lifted soon,” Mr. Tien added.

Since the beginning of 2014, the fisheries surveillance force has conducted over 400 patrols, monitoring 65,000 ships to combat IUU fishing.