On July 28, at the Government Headquarters, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung - Head of the National Steering Committee for Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) chaired the 35th Meeting of the Steering Committee.
Concluding the Meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung emphasized that after 8 years since the EC applied the "yellow card" warning, the work of combating IUU fishing still has many shortcomings and limitations.
Although in the past time the Government has directed drastically, the institutional system has been gradually improved, the Steering Committee has been consolidated, ministries, branches and localities have implemented many solutions, but the results of implementation on the ground have not yet met the requirements.
Besides the achieved results, the Deputy Prime Minister frankly pointed out many limitations such as leadership and direction in some localities not being drastic, and there is still a situation of doing things half-heartedly and coping.
The process of handling violating fishing vessels is not strict, not synchronized and not drastic; some localities have violation records but have not organized definitive handling.
Inspection and examination work is not drastic; the management and monitoring of fishing vessels that do not meet operating conditions, especially the "3 no" group of vessels (unregistered, uninspected and without fishing licenses) still has many limitations.
From the clearly stated limitations, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung requested that from now until August 31, a substantial change must be created in the work of combating IUU fishing.
This week, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to submit to the Government for promulgation an Action Plan to thoroughly overcome the EC's recommendations.
The plan must be specific, clearly defining each task, each ministry, sector, and locality responsible for implementation and completion progress.
The Deputy Prime Minister assigned ministries: National Defense, Public Security, Agriculture and Environment and localities to focus on thoroughly handling existing problems, especially violations arising from 2024 to present; continue to establish inspection teams, strengthen propaganda, guidance, urging and inspection of implementation at the grassroots level.
For cases of loss of connection to the journey monitoring device (VMS), it is necessary to clearly identify the cause, distinguish between technical errors and intentional violations. Cases of intentional disconnection for illegal exploitation in foreign waters must be strictly handled according to legal regulations.
The Deputy Prime Minister also requested the Ministry of National Defense to continue to maintain forces in key sea areas and border areas to prevent fishing vessels from violating; the Ministry of Public Security to focus on fighting and handling lines organizing illegal fishing vessels in foreign waters; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen coordination through diplomatic channels to support handling cases and promptly provide information to localities.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested ministries, branches, and localities to continue to closely coordinate, promote the responsibility of heads, and not let the situation of lack of decisiveness or evasion of responsibility occur. Localities must be fully responsible for the results of combating IUU fishing in the area.
We must focus all our efforts and determination to achieve the goal of removing the yellow card for the seafood industry. After this meeting, ministries, sectors, and localities must immediately implement the agreed tasks, prepare best for the working process with the EC and strive to achieve the goal of removing the yellow card warning by the end of the year," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
