Offshore fishing vessels in Ninh Thuận Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Thành

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has asked coastal localities at the central level to take measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to ensure effective preparation for European Commission (EC) inspection team’s coming visit.

The team is scheduled to make its fourth visit to Việt Nam in October to examine the country’s efforts in IUU prevention and control.

Localities must prioritise resources to implement directives by the Prime Minister and the head of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Prevention.

To show Việt Nam’s determination to remove the 'yellow card' warning on Vietnamese seafood exports from the EC, MARD requested coastal provinces and cities take strong measures to prevent vessels from fishing illegally in foreign waters.

At the same time, localities must impose penalties on brokers and hookers bringing fishing vessels to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters.

Localities must also review all fishing vessels to identify specific numbers of all registered, unregistered, and out-of-date vessels and those which have not been installed with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).

The relevant units have been urged to strictly control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports and border stations and update data from boat trackers into the national fisheries database (VNFishbase).

Ineligible fishing vessels, especially those that do not comply with VMS regulations will be strictly punished.

Provinces and cities have been tasked with issuing certification of traceability for aquatic products and inspecting firms importing aquatic raw materials for processing and exporting to the European market.

MARD asked Khánh Hòa and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu provinces to work with the ministry to impose punishment on violators, following the EC inspection team’s conclusion during their visit.

Coastal localities must send IUU combating reports to MARD which will then inform Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, who is chairman of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Prevention and Control.

MARD also asked relevant departments including the Fisheries Department and the Fisheries Surveillance Department to strengthen management and control over the import of aquatic products, fishing, and inspections.

The Fisheries Surveillance Department will coordinate with relevant agencies of the Ministries of National Defence, Public Security, and Foreign Affairs in organising interdisciplinary working groups to work with host countries where Vietnamese vessels are alleged to commit illegal fishing.

It was assigned to hold an online meeting with the EC in September to prepare for the fourth visit of EC’s inspectors in October. — VNS