After getting the “yellow card” warning from the European Commission (EC) five years ago, Vietnam has upgraded the fishery industry to follow the EC’s standards on the prevention of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
This year, a European Commission (EC) delegation will visit Vietnam to follow-up those anti-illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations.
Vietnam News Agency interviewed Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien about this subject.
What issues are there with applying anti-IUU fishing measures?
A few fishing boats using the Vietnamese flag continue to fish illegally in international waters. The European Commission (EC) has stated that it will not withdraw the “yellow card” warning if Vietnam does not stop this.
Additionally, registration, fishing license issuing and cruise monitoring equipment (VMS) installation still needed to be finished. The National Fisheries Database’s data on fishing vessels too in need of up to date entirely (VNFishbase).
Administrative penalties are not strict enough and law enforcement remains ineffective. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing policies are not followed by all areas.
The government has been working keenly to improve anti-IUU fishing measures and has made significant progress in recent years. But still, some restrictions are gradually being eased due to increasing awareness among fishermen about the people who are responsible for not doing inspections and monitoring of anti-IUU fishing systems.
What strict actions need to be taken to end this circumstance?
To effectively execute anti-illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing measures, local authorities at all levels must first increase their responsibility. They must also identify the organizations and people who fall short of their duties in the fight against IUU fishing.
To fulfill the requirements for information search and boat management, localities must immediately determine the number of fishing vessels, complete the issue of licenses, install monitoring devices and update vessel data in the National Fisheries Database (Vnfishbase).
Meanwhile, fishing ports should keep track of all docking locations; monitor and oversee all catches to maintain traceability, and strictly handle vessels that do not dock at specified ports.
Coastal provinces and cities must create lists of fishing vessels that have ever breached international seas. Additionally, they must submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Defense a list of fishing vessels that lack vessel monitoring system (VMS) equipment, have expired fishing licenses, and are at a high risk of engaging in IUU fishing for management and monitoring.
To actively track and supervise the activities of local fishing vessels at sea, the authorities must use the nation’s Fishing Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).
The authorities must use the national Fishing Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to track and oversee the operations of local fishing vessels at sea. The system will help authorities ensure that all fishing vessels operate safely and within legal limits.
To increase public knowledge of the necessity to uphold the law, local authorities and the Vietnam Fisheries Association boosted their communications activities.
The Association of Seafood Exporters, Producers, and Seafood Firms shall categorically reject aquatic goods from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing operations. At the same time, they should inform the authorities so that they can deal with seafood businesses that support IUU fishing activities seriously.
The European Commission (EC) inspection team is scheduled to revisit Vietnam in April 2023 to evaluate the country’s anti-illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing policies. Vietnam will work to get rid of the “yellow card” warning in 2023 with the coordinated and effective implementation of the current regulations.
Tariq Iqbal
Khulna, Bangladesh
