On the afternoon of September 23, in Hanoi, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 14th meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that Vietnam is a coastal nation with abundant aquatic resources, and its people have a tradition of fishing and exploiting offshore seafood.
The important thing is that seafood exploitation must comply with international regulations and Vietnamese law.
The Secretariat has issued a Directive, the Government and the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing have held 13 meetings and 4 inspection teams in localities.
At the same time, it advised the issuance of 1 Directive of the Secretariat, 2 Directives and 8 telegrams of the Prime Minister to direct ministries, branches and coastal localities to carry out the work of combating IUU fishing and recommending the "Y yellow card" warning of the European Commission (EC).
After 8 years, despite many efforts, there are still cases of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and the European Commission has not removed the IUU "Y yellow card" warning.
The IUU "Y yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood has affected seafood exports; affected the honor and reputation of the country.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the goal is to end illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing so that the European Commission can remove the IUU "Y yellow card" warning.
The Prime Minister noted that there is very little time left from now until the end of the year, in October 2025, the Inspection Team of the European Commission will inspect IUU in our country.
In particular, in the context of the Vietnamese seafood market at risk of being narrowed and having difficulties due to the tariff policies of other countries, the European Commission's withdrawal of the IUU "Y yellow card" will help Vietnamese seafood regain and expand the market, helping people increase their income.
The Prime Minister emphasized that it is impossible to be helpless in the face of violations in seafood exploitation and expected this to be the last meeting of the Steering Committee; the situation of illegal, unreported and unregulated seafood exploitation will end.
The head of the Government requested delegates to specifically assess the situation, especially clearly review the role and responsibility in leadership, direction, management and measures of Party committees and authorities at all levels in removing the "Yellowship" of IUU; people's awareness.
The delegates pointed out the causes and proposed drastic solutions, in the spirit of " Saying it must be done, committing to do it effectively" strictly implementing Directive No. 32-CT/TW of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in combating illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing and sustainable development of the fisheries sector (Directive 32).
