Photo: VASEP/FIS

Vietnam is determined to remove the IUU 'Yellow Card' warning in 2024

VIET NAM
Tuesday, July 02, 2024, 07:00 (GMT + 9)

VASEP, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, reported that the Government Office issued Notice No. 275/TB-VPCP on the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang at the Preliminary Conference of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

At the Announcement, the Deputy Prime Minister highly appreciated the efforts of departments, ministries, branches and localities over the past time, and the results have been achieved: The legal framework to date has been basically completed with the Law Fisheries and documents guiding the implementation of the Law are amended and supplemented according to the recommendations of the EC; The Secretariat issued Directive No. 32-CT/TW dated April 10, 2024 on strengthening the Party's leadership in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. sustainable development of the fisheries industry; The Government issued Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP dated April 22, 2024 promulgating the Action Program and Implementation Plan for the implementation of Directive No. 32-CT/TW of the Secretariat; Monitoring and controlling fishing vessel activities and tracing the origin of exploited aquatic products are more conscious than before; Law enforcement has initially prosecuted and adjudicated cases related to brokering and connecting our fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit foreign waters...; and especially, on June 12, 2024, the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court issued Resolution No. 04/NQ-HDTP guiding the application of a number of provisions of the Penal Code on prosecution. Criminal liability for acts related to illegal exploitation, trading, and transportation of aquatic products. This resolution is a breakthrough, solving long-standing legal problems when prosecuting violators of the law on illegal fishing.

However, in general, up to now, in some localities, there are still many shortcomings and limitations that are slow to be overcome.

The 5th EC inspection (expected in October 2024) is the decisive moment for Vietnam to remove the "Yellow Card" warning in 2024; Therefore, relevant sectors and levels from central to local levels must identify this as an important task and act in unison with the highest determination to remove the "Yellow Card" warning.

Some key tasks and solutions

The Deputy Prime Minister requested relevant departments, ministries, branches and localities to focus on leading and directing functional agencies to seriously implement Directive No. 32-CT/TW of the Secretariat and Resolution No. 52 /NQ-CP of the Government and the guiding opinions of the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU and other relevant documents, ensuring timely and effective work; Carefully prepare the content, program, and working plan with the 5th EC Inspection Team to ensure the best results.

Allocate sufficient resources (human resources, funding, equipment, means) to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing and removing the "Yellow Card" warning. Periodically, before the 30th of each month, report the situation and results of combating IUU fishing to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Standing Body of the National Steering Committee on IUU) for synthesis and reporting to the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister and the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that it is necessary to attach responsibility to the heads of Party committees, authorities at all levels and functional forces, resolutely handle the responsibilities of organizations and individuals who do not fulfill their assigned duties and tasks, report the results of the handling to competent authorities; promptly encourage, reward and motivate typical examples in combating IUU fishing.

Launching a peak to handle IUU fishing violations

To effectively and efficiently implement Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Public Security, relevant ministries and branches, and People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run cities to launch a peak period of law enforcement and handling of IUU fishing violations from the central to local levels to create a strong change in the fight against IUU fishing. Maximize the contents of Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court, promptly consolidate records to strictly handle violations according to regulations as soon as the Resolution comes into effect.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development presides over and coordinates with departments, ministries, branches, and localities in many forms of information and communication, widely propagating regulations on criminal handling related violations of IUU fishing in Resolution No. 04/NQ-HDTP of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court to create a change in the sense of law observance, deterrence, and education.

The Ministry of Public Security has issued a document directing local police forces to carry out peak coordination in investigating, prosecuting, prosecuting, and adjudicating cases of law violations related to brokering and connecting fishing vessels. Fishermen go fishing illegally in foreign waters;

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regularly inspects and supervises localities and relevant local authorities to implement regulations against IUU fishing, including at sea; promptly advise and propose competent authorities to handle responsibilities for organizations and individuals who fail to fulfill assigned responsibilities and tasks under the direction of the Secretariat, the Government, and the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Justice urgently advises on additional authority to sanction administrative violations in the field of fisheries for the Directors of Sub-Departments under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with the function of state management of fisheries or Carry out functions and tasks of fisheries control according to the provisions of law; Complete and report to the Prime Minister on implementation results in August 2024.

Tighten the management of local fisheries exploitation activities

The Chairman of the People's Committee of coastal provinces and centrally-run cities shall focus on leadership, direction, and allocation of sufficient resources, and clearly assign responsibilities to local agencies and functional forces to thoroughly resolve existing problems and limitations, ensuring that there are specific data and results to prove at the 5th inspection by the EC.

Urgently direct the completion of granting fishing licenses, registration, inspection, marking of fishing vessels, installation of VMS equipment, issuance of Food Safety Certificates for fishing vessels; fully update fishing vessel data into the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), complete and report to the Prime Minister on implementation results in July 2024.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of coastal provinces and centrally run cities shall direct functional forces to monitor, manage and control 100% of local fishing fleets and fishing vessels of other localities operating in the locality; thoroughly handle the number of "3 no" fishing vessels in the locality according to regulations.

Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam Tuna Association, and seafood export enterprises must be responsible for strictly complying with IUU regulations, purchasing, processing, and exporting seafood. Mined products must ensure traceability of origin.

Source: VASEP (translated from original in Vietnamese)

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