Ensure seafood exports do not violate regulations against IUU fishing

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	EC’s upcoming visit to Vietnam to review IUU fishing fight

The Coast Guard arrested the fishing vessel CM-99275-TS for violating IUU

The Government Office has just issued Notice No. 393/TB-VPCP dated December 27, 2022, on the conclusion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the online conference on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

In particular, the Prime Minister requested the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities to raise the responsibility of heads of Party committees and authorities at all levels in leading and directing against IUU fishing; review the responsibility of units and individuals that do not fully perform their duties and responsibilities in the fight against IUU fishing.

Furthermore, to promote propaganda and mobilisation of people to comply with the law on combating IUU fishing; strengthen the management of fishing vessels, strictly handle fishing vessels violating regulations on anti-IUU fishing; and improve the work of certification and traceability of aquatic products.

Prioritise allocating sufficient resources (human, funding, and equipment) for the management and combat of IUU fishing in the locality; closely coordinate with localities in monitoring, controlling, and handling fishing vessels violating IUU fishing; and strengthen the inspection and examination of enterprises in the area to ensure that the export of aquatic products does not violate regulations against IUU fishing.

Additionally, the Prime Minister requested relevant departments, ministries, branches, localities, associations, and seafood enterprises to think truthfully, tell the truth, do the truth, and get real results with no bureaucracy and formality, focusing on drastic actions, and effectively implementing critical tasks and solutions.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Standing Body of the National Steering Committee on IUU) urgently develops a 180-day action plan to combat IUU fishing as recommended by the EC until May 2023, and submit it to the Government or the Prime Minister for consideration and promulgation; organise inter-sectoral working groups to urge and inspect the implementation of regulations against IUU fishing in localities, promptly guide to overcome shortcomings and limitations; summarise and report to the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee on IUU implementation results.

The Ministry of National Defense directs functional forces to coordinate with relevant departments, ministries, branches, coastal provinces and cities to prevent and stop illegal fishing in foreign waters before March 31, 2023.

The Ministry of Public Security will thoroughly investigate and handle acts of brokering and sending of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to fish in foreign waters illegally and acts of brokering ransom for fishing vessels and fishermen arrested by foreign countries to return home illegally.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will protect fishermen returning home; promptly and resolutely fight foreign cases of illegal arrest and handling of our fishing vessels and fishermen; preside over negotiations, and soon complete the delimitation of bordering, overlapping, and undefined sea areas between Vietnam and other countries; advise and propose boundaries to allow fishing vessels to exploit seafood in these areas.

Simultaneously, to enlist the support of relevant parties to strengthen advocacy and fight with the EC to consider, share, accompany, and support solutions to combat IUU fishing in the context that Vietnam's fishing industry is transforming from a traditional, small-scale fishery to a modern, responsible, and internationally integrated fishery.

The Ministry of Information and Communications will assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with other departments, ministries, branches, and localities in directing information dissemination, directing news agencies, press, and grassroots information systems to increase the amount and quality of information and propaganda on Vietnam's efforts to prevent and combat IUU fishing; inform and propagate typical organisations and individuals in IUU fishing prevention and control.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment prioritises allocating sufficient capital sources to departments, ministries, branches, and localities to invest in and upgrade the fishery infrastructure, fishing ports, and storm shelters and implement mechanisms and policies to support fishermen.

The Ministry of Finance has an effective solution to control aquatic products imported into Vietnam; prioritise allocating sufficient funds for relevant departments, ministries, branches, and localities to effectively implement contents, programs, and plans to combat the task of combating IUU fishing.

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The Ministry of Science and Technology will coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as relevant departments, ministries, branches, and localities to ensure technological and technical solutions for the fishing vessel monitoring system and fishing vessel tracking equipment of the equipment suppliers to operate smoothly and stably according to the regulations.