Prime Minister requests to completely handle '3 no' fishing boats before November 20, 2024

Telegrams sent to the Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance, Planning and Investment, Information and Communications, Foreign Affairs, Public Security, National Defense; Chairmen of the People's Committees of 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities and Chairmen of the associations: Vietnam Fisheries, Vietnam Tuna, Seafood Processing and Export.

The dispatch stated: After 7 years of combating IUU fishing, ministries, sectors and localities have made great efforts in implementing tasks and solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Up to now, through 4 inspections by the European Commission (EC), the implementation of the task of combating IUU fishing has changed, achieving specific results, recognized by the EC. However, there are still many goals and tasks that have not been achieved or are slow to be completed according to the direction of the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister and the EC's requirements related to the contents of registration, granting of fishing licenses, handling of "3 no" fishing vessels; violations of regulations on installation, management and operation of fishing vessel monitoring equipment (VMS); in particular, the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen violating illegal fishing in foreign waters continues to be complicated.

The above-mentioned shortcomings and limitations are mainly due to the organization and implementation in some localities; leaders in some places lack determination in leadership and direction, do not pay due attention, do not check, inspect and supervise; some functional forces have profiteering, covering up, and assisting IUU fishing... Some localities, agencies, organizations and a part of fishermen have not fully recognized that IUU implementation is an opportunity to protect and develop resources and sustainably catch aquatic products, therefore, they have mainly focused on implementing coping solutions to remove the IUU yellow card. In addition, there is also the responsibility of some central ministries and branches that have not fulfilled their assigned State management responsibilities, have not closely coordinated with each other and have not effectively advised the Government and the Prime Minister to thoroughly handle the long-standing shortcomings and limitations related to combating IUU fishing.

In order to be determined to remove the "Yellow Card" warning at the 5th inspection by the EC, not to affect the development of the fisheries industry, the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities; especially to reduce the prestige, position and image of the country, the Prime Minister requested relevant departments, ministries, branches and localities to take the highest responsibility at the present time, seriously rectify, focus on synchronously implementing the tasks and solutions assigned by the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU in Directive No. 32-CT/TW dated April 10, 2024, Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP dated April 22, 2024, Conclusion Notice No. 403/TB-VPCP dated August 31, 2024 and other relevant directive documents; From now until the EC Inspection Delegation visits Vietnam for the 5th time, it is necessary to focus resources and thoroughly handle the following key and urgent issues:

1. Relevant departments, ministries, branches and localities shall organize dissemination, assign specific tasks, clearly define the responsibilities of each agency and unit, completion time, and achieved results to seriously and effectively implement the tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing in Directive No. 32-CT/TW of the Secretariat, Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP of the Government and the instructions of the Prime Minister, Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU. Attach responsibility to the heads of Party committees, Party organizations and authorities at all levels in performing the task of combating IUU fishing; promptly encourage, reward and review, strictly handle cases that fail to fulfill assigned duties and tasks.

Proactively and promptly coordinate between ministries, branches, localities and forces in sharing information, combating, preventing and handling IUU fishing activities. Direct subordinate law enforcement forces in November to launch a peak period of simultaneously deploying forces to patrol, inspect, control and handle "3 no" fishing vessels, fishing vessels that are not qualified to participate in illegal fishing activities, fishing vessels that have been deregistered but are still operating... Completely handle "3 no" fishing vessels to be completed before November 20, 2024.

Applying technology, artificial intelligence, data analysis, reviewing and identifying areas and fishing vessels that frequently violate fishing in foreign waters to concentrate forces on control, prevention and handling, especially in the provinces of Kien Giang, Binh Dinh, Ca Mau (where fishing vessels still violate illegal fishing in foreign waters); inspecting, investigating, identifying causes, responsibilities, solutions, proposing supplements and improvements to laws, technical solutions, and appropriate policies for effective and substantive management.

Ensure resources and funding, promptly complete the work of overcoming existing shortcomings and limitations; prepare the best content and conditions to welcome and work with the 5th EC Inspection Delegation; do not let passivity and surprise affect the country's efforts to remove the "Yellow Card" warning.

2. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

- Continue to study the amendment and supplement of Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP of the Government detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Fisheries, Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP of the Government on administrative sanctions for violations in the field of fisheries; report to the Prime Minister.before December 15, 2024.

- Preside with the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Science and Technology to review and complete regulations and standards on equipment and install connection devices on fishing vessels to ensure quality and prevent acts of removing or turning off equipment to monitor fishing vessel journeys.

- Preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches, and technology enterprises to continue investing in and upgrading the fisheries management information infrastructure, the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), the fishing vessel monitoring system (VMS), applying information technology and artificial intelligence in analyzing, monitoring, supervising, and sanctioning IUU fishing; the electronic traceability system (eCDT) to declare and update the output and origin of exploited aquatic products, manage fishing labor... according to regulations; ensure synchronous, unified, and interconnected data connection from the central to local levels and between functional forces; develop applications (apps) for fishermen to update and declare the origin of caught aquatic products and serve analysis; applications to analyze and identify vessels that frequently violate, send equipment,... to zone in and strengthen control.

- Complete the fisheries control system from the central to local levels, ensuring sufficient resources, funding, infrastructure and equipment to meet the requirements of combating IUU fishing, developing sustainable fisheries and contributing to protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. Establish a unified command and control system from the central level to the regional and local fisheries control departments of 28 coastal provinces and cities.

- Preside over and coordinate with localities to promptly submit to competent authorities for consideration investment projects, upgrade key fishing ports, serving the work of purchasing, confirming, and tracing the origin of exploited aquatic products; effectively implement the Plan for Protection and Development of Aquatic Resources for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 to preserve ecosystems, protect aquatic resources, and sustainably develop the fisheries sector according to the direction of the Secretariat in Directive No. 32-CT/TW.

- Direct and urge localities to complete registration, inspection, issuance of fishing licenses, and handling of "3 no" fishing vessels, ensuring completion before November 20, 2024; summarize and report to the Prime Minister on implementation results.

3. Ministry of National Defense: Direct the navy, border guards, and coast guard forces to preside over and coordinate with fisheries surveillance and maritime law enforcement forces to continue to strengthen patrols, inspections, and controls in sea areas bordering countries where Vietnamese fishing vessels frequently violate the law on illegal fishing; study and implement support for repairs and provide replacement fishing vessel monitoring equipment (VMS) in case of damage at sea. Direct the border guards to resolutely not allow fishing vessels that do not meet the conditions to enter or exit ports to participate in fishing activities.

4. Ministry of Public Security: Focus on directing the police of all forces and the police of 28 coastal provinces and cities to control the situation of fishing vessels being bought, sold, and transferred without changing ownership, "3 no" fishing vessels, fishing vessels, and other local fishermen operating in the management area not in accordance with the law; continue to investigate and strictly handle according to the law the organizations and individuals involved in IUU fishing violations, individuals who broker and collude to bring fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit in foreign waters, acts of legalizing documents for export shipments to the European market, acts of breaking and sending VMS devices and serious violations according to the provisions of Resolution No. 04/2024/NQ-HDTP dated June 12, 2024 of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court. Integrate identification of fishing vessels, captains, and citizens participating in fishing activities into the national population database to monitor and manage fishing vessels.

5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Directs Vietnamese diplomatic missions in relevant countries to strengthen cooperation with host countries in sharing and exchanging information on the arrest and handling of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen, and promptly providing it to domestic authorities for investigation and handling in accordance with Vietnamese law. Promote bilateral cooperation on combating IUU fishing with countries that arrest and handle Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen; sign and establish hotlines between Vietnam and other countries to handle issues related to fishing vessels and fishermen of the two countries operating at sea.

6. Ministry of Finance: Continue to prioritize funding allocation for departments, ministries, branches and localities to implement tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing and remove the "Yellow Card" warning as prescribed.

7. Ministry of Planning and Investment: Continue to prioritize the allocation of medium-term public investment capital for the period 2026 - 2030 and other capital sources as prescribed to implement the Plan for Protection and Development of Aquatic Resources, the Plan for the system of fishing ports and storm shelters for fishing vessels for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, and sustainable development of the fisheries sector according to the direction of the Secretariat in Directive No. 32-CT/TW.

8. Ministry of Information and Communications: Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Science and Technology to complete regulations and standards on VMS equipment to ensure quality; direct telecommunications enterprises to ensure VMS connection signals to monitor and manage fishing vessel activities. Actively coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries, branches and localities to verify and strictly handle service providers that do not comply with regulations.

9. The Chairman of the People's Committee of 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities directly leads and directs the tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing, and is responsible to the Prime Minister for the implementation results of his/her locality. Specifically:

- Assign 1 leader of the Provincial and Municipal People's Committee to regularly direct and inspect the actual work of combating IUU fishing at the grassroots level; promptly rectify and overcome shortcomings and limitations.

- Urgently review and classify the fleet, thoroughly handle "3 no's" fishing vessels, fishing vessels that have been bought, sold, transferred without changing names or owners; fishing vessels that are still operating or no longer operating, have been deregistered, local fishing vessels operating in other provinces...; ensure a clear understanding of the current situation, strict management; fully update fishing vessel data into the national fisheries database (VNFishbase); to be completed before November 20, 2024.

- Review, investigate, verify, and thoroughly handle IUU fishing behaviors, especially the acts of disconnecting, sending, and transporting VMS equipment, crossing maritime boundaries; brokering, connecting, and violating illegal fishing in foreign waters... since the 4th inspection to date; ensure specific evidence; in November 2024, complete and report the implementation results to the standing agency of the National Steering Committee on IUU for timely synthesis and reporting to competent authorities.

- Focus resources, strengthen police and border guards to coordinate with local authorities (communes/wards/towns) to strengthen the work of grasping the situation in key areas, propaganda and mobilization, promptly detect and prevent early and remotely fishing vessels and fishermen intending to illegally exploit in foreign waters. Share data, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, entering and leaving ports, fishing vessels participating in fishing activities at sea, monitor the output of exploited aquatic products; resolutely handle the responsibility of the Fishing Port Management Board, the Office of Fisheries Inspection and Control at fishing ports for fishing vessels violating IUU fishing to enter and leave ports, unload exploited aquatic products without verification, and handle according to regulations.

- Continue to review and strictly implement the work of confirming and certifying the origin of exploited aquatic products on the electronic traceability system (eCDT) to ensure transparency and legality in confirming, certifying and tracing the origin of exploited aquatic products; resolutely handle acts of legalizing documents for export shipments to the European market.

- Review and propose investment projects for key fishing ports to serve the work of verification, traceability, and combating IUU fishing. Prioritize the allocation of resources (human resources, funding, equipment, etc.) to local agencies and functional forces to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing; mobilize and assign qualified and professional staff to advise and direct the implementation of assigned tasks.

10. Fisheries associations and seafood exporting enterprises: Issue regulations stipulating the responsibilities and obligations of seafood exporting enterprises to comply with regulations on combating IUU fishing; strictly prohibit the purchase, processing and export of seafood products that violate IUU. Promptly notify the authorities if businesses are found to be non-compliant with regulations. Build a chain of links in the purchase, processing and export of seafood products associated with each fishing fleet and seafood product, ensuring price and market stability to help fishermen feel secure in production and not violate IUU.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is assigned to inspect, urge, monitor, synthesize and report to the Prime Minister the results of the implementation of this Official Dispatch.