Fishing boats in Cà Mau Province. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI - The European Commission (EC)’s fifth inspection on Việt Nam’s fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing will be the decisive time for Việt Nam to have the EC’s “yellow card” warning removed, requiring the whole political system to take this as an important task and act with the highest determination, according to a Government Office announcement on Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang’s conclusions at a recent conference.

The announcement said that at the National Steering Committee for IUU Fishing Prevention and Control, the Deputy PM highly valued efforts by ministries, sectors, and localities over the past time.

However, he pointed out existing shortcomings and weaknesses, saying that several missions have lagged behind the EC’s recommendations due to the poor awareness of both local leaders and fishermen and limitations in coordination between authorities as well as the inspection and handling of violations.

Therefore, Deputy PM Quang requested high concentration on implementing urgent and key tasks and solutions from now to September, ensuring there are specific data and proven results to work with the EC inspection team.

It is a must to seriously put in place the Party Central Committee's Secretariat and Government’s related documents with a view to having the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood removed soon, he stressed.

The official also required localities to optimise their resources, bolster coordination with competent authorities, and roll out harmonious and drastic solutions, including the handling of violations, the improvement of traceability, and the enhancement of inspections and supervisions over boats’ operation, while promoting standout examples in the fight. VNS