Provincial leaders responsible for combating IUU fishing: PM

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told a Government meeting on August 28 that if no progress is made in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in a locality, its leader will be held accountable.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during the meeting. Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP

A report presented at the meeting stated that nearly a year after the fourth inspection by the European Commission (EC) in October 2023 and seven years since the implementation of measures to combat IUU fishing and to remove the EC's "yellow card" warning, Vietnam has achieved significant results recognized by the EC. Many issues raised by the EC have been addressed.

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Chinh emphasized the goal of lifting the "yellow card" warning during the 5th inspection by the EC's Inspection Team, expected in October 2024.

Chinh also affirmed that the goal of removing the "yellow card" warning has solid political, legal, and practical foundations.

The Government has instructed the Ministry of Defense to continue to strengthen patrols, inspections, and surveillance in maritime areas adjacent to other countries to promptly prevent and address fishing vessels showing signs of illegal activities in foreign waters.

He urged the provincial border guards to strictly perform their duties in controlling the entry and exit of fishing vessels and to rigorously discipline any border stations along the coast that allow unqualified vessels to engage in fishing activities. He also warned against any functional forces that tolerate or facilitate  IUU fishing practices.

The Ministry of Public Security was instructed to expedite the investigation and prosecution  of organizations and individuals involved in brokering and facilitating illegal fishing activities in foreign waters, as well as those transporting VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) equipment on other fishing vessels to violate regulations.

The Ministry of Justice was urged to expeditiously study and advise on the extension of administrative penalty powers in the fisheries sector to the heads of Fisheries Sub-Departments under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, ensuring the completion and submission of a report to the Prime Minister by September 2024.

The Premier asked the Party secretaries and People's Committee chairpersons of the coastal provinces and first-tier cities personally to lead efforts to ensure the completion of specific tasks.

These tasks include reviewing all IUU fishing activities from the fourth inspection up to the present, focusing first on cases involving the disconnection, dispatch, or transport of VMS equipment across maritime borders, and illegal fishing activities in foreign waters.

Maximum resources must be allocated to promptly prevent and address potential violations, especially in the provinces of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Binh Dinh, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

"If any locality fails to make progress in combating IUU fishing in the near future, continues to allow violations, and does not complete the assigned tasks, the provincial party committee secretary, and chairpersons of the People's Committees of coastal provinces and first-tier cities will be held accountable before the Party Secretariat, the Government, and the Prime Minister," Chinh stressed.