Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has ordered relevant ministries,sectors and authorities of 28 coastal localities to implement comprehensivemeasures to stop illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by Vietnamese fishing ships ininternational waters in the next six months.

Speaking at a meeting of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing Prevention inHanoi on December 11, Deputy PM Dung asked for closer coordination among ministries,sectors and localities to strictly follow the European Commission (EC)inspection delegation’s recommendations regarding the settlement of IUU fishing.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was requested to acceleratethe implementation of solutions, and offer advice on the revisions of the legal framework to ensure compliance with the EC’srecommendations.

Dung said MARD needs to promote the restructuring of the fisheriessector, focusing on building an aquaculture development strategy.

The Ministry of Defence will be responsible for carrying out measures to end violations andillegal fishing in foreign waters as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Public Security was askedto focus on investigating and strictly punishing relevant organisations andindividuals, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work to provideinformation of boundaries for offshore fishing activities.

According to the Deputy PM, after their visit to Vietnam from November 4-14 to assess the country’s efforts to implementthe EC’srecommendations, the EC inspectiondelegation valued Vietnam’s commitment, determination and efforts to prevent IUUfishing.

However, EC inspectors also pointed outshortcomings that Vietnam needs to fix, especially fishing violations in othercountries’ waters, Dung said.

He affirmed that the removal of the EC’s yellow card warning on IUU fishing isnot only important for Vietnam’s seafood exports and economic development, but willalso help promote the restructuring of the fisheries sector in a sustainable andmodern manner, and improve the country’s reputation in the international arena.

Since the EC issued a “yellow card” warning toVietnam two years ago, the country has fine-tuned the Law on Fisheries 2017, withtwo decrees and one decision from the Prime Minister, and eight circularsguiding the enforcement of the Law on Fisheries issued by MARD.

Over 31,500 fishing vessels have been equipped with tracking systems.

Since 2018, MARD has sent 20 inspection teams toshow localities how to fight IUU fishing.

The Mekong Delta provinces of Binh Thuan, TienGiang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Ca Mau and Kien Giang have signeda cooperation agreement in a bid to have the EC’s warning lifted.

27 out of the 28 coastal provinces haveestablished offices to control fishing at 60 ports, and launched initiatives topreventing IUU fishing in ASEAN for the 2020 – 2025 period, as well as supportthe ASEAN Initiative on the establishment of an IUU fishing combat networkfunded by the European Union.

Authorities have also worked with sixcountries to verify the origins of aquatic products exported to the EU.

A list of violating fishing vessels and ownersis released on the media on a weekly basis, with fines amounting to nearly 7billion VND (304,000 USD)./.