Efforts to remove the "yellow card" on Vietnam's seafood exploitation

On the morning of August 3, the Government held an online conference on the implementation of Directive No. 45/CT-TTg dated December 13, 2017 of the Prime Minister on a number of urgent tasks and solutions to address the European Commission's (EC) warning on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Comrades: Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong chaired the conference.

At Nghe An bridgehead, comrade Dinh Viet Hong -Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committeechair the conference.

Nghe An participated in the online conference chaired by Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong. Photo: Phu Huong

On October 23, 2017, the European Commission issued a “yellow card” warning to Vietnam’s exploited seafood products, because Vietnam has not yet controlled illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities (IUU fishing); Vietnam’s fisheries management is not yet similar to regional and global fisheries management, especially it has not met the EC’s regulations on traceability of exploited seafood products.

Along with other activities, the issuance of the DirectiveNo. 45/CT-TTg is considered one of the timely moves of the Government to overcome this warning of the EC.

Ministries and sectors have implemented many activities to overcome shortcomings according to the EC's recommendations. By May 2018, 22/28 People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities had issued documents directing and guiding the implementation of urgent measures to overcome the "yellow card" warning according to Directive No. 45/CT-TTG, and a number of provinces issued specialized resolutions on this issue.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung requested that localities, ministries and branches continue to take effective measures to remove the EC's "yellow card". Photo: Phu Huong

After more than 8 months, Vietnam has basically internalized international and regional regulations on combating IUU fishing; awareness of combating IUU fishing has been raised; the situation of fishing vessels violating the waters of Pacific island countries has almost ended; international cooperation and participation in international agreements and conventions on fisheries have seen many positive efforts.

During the inspection in May 2018, the EC Inspection Teamappreciated Vietnam's determination and efforts in actions against IUU fishing.

Implementing Directive No. 45/CT-TTg, Nghe An has made efforts to control and combat IUU fishing and achieved many positive results; promoted propaganda to each fisherman; patrolling, control and supervision have been strengthened; violations have been thoroughly handled.

However, due to the small amount of products coming through fishing ports, inspection and control of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports is extremely difficult; violations still occur...

In the coming time, Nghe An plans to continue implementing solutions and implementing Directive No. 45/CT-TTg to reduce and eliminate illegal seafood exploitation and overcome the "yellow card".

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong pointed out that the problems in Vietnam's seafood exploitation have not been thoroughly resolved. Photo: Phu Huong

In his concluding remarks at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung also stated: The Fisheries Law has basically internalized the EC's recommendations on IUU fishing; however, it is necessary to continue to regulate in sub-law documents on a number of necessary issues.

According to the plan, in October 2018, the European Parliament Delegation will visit and inspect the implementation of the fight against IUU fishing in Vietnam and in January 2019, the EC Inspection Delegation will return to inspect. Based on the delegation's assessment, the European Commission will consider the issue of overcoming the "yellow card" for Vietnam.

Fishermen of Quynh Luu district go offshore to cling to the sea. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Therefore, from now until December 31, 2018, it is necessary to focus on completing legal documents to ensure they take effect in sync with the Fisheries Law from January 2019; Establish an effective steering mechanism from the central to local levels on preventing IUU fishing and implementing the EC's recommendations on combating IUU fishing; promote propaganda so that fishermen clearly understand the "yellow card" and the regulations that must be complied with and implemented; deploy strong and synchronous measures to ensure prevention of illegal fishing vessels in foreign waters; control imported aquatic materials well...

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that this must be considered one of the important political tasks, an opportunity to rectify seafood exploitation activities, determined not to let the EC raise the "red card" warning level for Vietnam's seafood exploitation activities./.