Nghe An: Overcoming EC recommendations to remove 'Yellow Card' in seafood exploitation

On the afternoon of September 23, under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to discuss solutions to strengthen the implementation of a number of tasks to overcome the European Commission's warning on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Photo: Phu Huong

Two years after the European Commission (EC) issued a “Yellow Card” warning for Vietnam’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and made nine official recommendations for Vietnam to implement to improve fisheries management; 16 months since the EC inspected and recommended that Vietnam continue to address four groups of recommendations to combat IUU fishing, including: Legal framework; system for monitoring, supervising and controlling fishing vessel activities; law enforcement; traceability of seafood from exploitation, Nghe An has achieved some positive results.

In Nghe An, there has been an initial positive change in the awareness of fishermen in their fishing activities. Coordination between units has been strengthened, regularly monitoring fishing vessels entering and leaving at inlets/fishing ports; patrolling and controlling activities at sea have been increased and violations have been strictly handled. Thereby, fishing activities have been strictly controlled, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities of fishing vessels in the province have been promptly prevented.

Mr. Tran Huu Tien - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requested the Provincial People's Committee to direct coastal districts and towns to strengthen propaganda work to raise awareness among fishermen. Photo: Phu Huong

However, in addition to the achieved results, violations in fishing activities still occur. Fishermen still use destructive fishing methods that affect the environment, exploit the wrong areas, and dispute fishing grounds; fishermen's awareness and capacity in complying with state regulations are still limited; on-site inspections and licensing of fishing activities have not met requirements; especially the involvement of district and commune authorities is not resolute, and coordination is not high.

Nghe An is focusing all efforts to contribute to removing the Yellow Card in seafood exploitation activities. Photo: Phu Huong

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong stated: As planned, in November 2019, the European Commission will return to inspect the process of overcoming the recommendations, on that basis, it will consider removing the yellow card or raising the warning level to a red card for Vietnam's seafood exploitation activities.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that localities and relevant sectors continue to promote propaganda and education to raise awareness and sense of law compliance among fishermen; strengthen coordination in inspection and supervision of fishing vessels entering and leaving estuaries as well as patrolling and controlling fishing activities in estuaries, inlets, and at sea and strictly handle violations; focus on overcoming the recommendations of the European Commission, contributing to the effort to remove the yellow card in Vietnam's seafood exploitation activities.