News
Vietnam ministry to revoke license of boats fishing illegally overseas
The move is among efforts of Vietnam’s government in combating the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has announced that it will withdraw the license of boats violating regulations on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, in a move to fight this phenomenon and have the European Union (EU) take back the yellow card warning.
Specifically, during the last six months of 2018, the government would put strict measures to intensively monitor the fishing boats. For example, the owners with boats violating foreign countries' waters will have their licenses revoked or stopped from renewal.
The MARD also asked all the coastal localities to collect MOVIMAR satellite systems built on fishing boats that do not meet the regulated standards. The system should be available 24/24 or the owner would be fined.
Meanwhile, the VX-1700 equipment should be upgraded to ensure the reporting from fishing boats.
Those tasks are requested to be done by October 2018, according to the MARD.
The MARD also mentions the conclusion of European Commission (EC)’s delegation during their inspection trip to Vietnam on June 15 - 24, to consider removing the "yellow card".
As reflected by the commission, Vietnamese fishing boats are still found violating foreign waters, while the legal framework to handle IUU cases is inadequate to that of other countries in the region, etc.
Consequently, the EC is scheduled to review its warning against fisheries export in early next year.
Earlier in October 2017, the EC warned Vietnam with a six-month “yellow card”, because the country’s fishermen continued to conduct IUU fishing, which the EC considered a key obstruction for the ratification of the EVFTA by the EU.
“As experience shows, no country has made the EU’s yellow card removed within twelve months. In the Vietnam case, both sides have involved in discussing and tackling the issue without hindering the two-way trade flow during the period,” said Ha Cong Tuan, deputy head of MARD.
Vietnam’s fishery exports were estimated to reach US$732 million in June, bringing the total value for the first half of 2018 to approximately US$3.94 billion, up 10.5% compared to the same period last year.
Specifically, during the last six months of 2018, the government would put strict measures to intensively monitor the fishing boats. For example, the owners with boats violating foreign countries' waters will have their licenses revoked or stopped from renewal.
The MARD also asked all the coastal localities to collect MOVIMAR satellite systems built on fishing boats that do not meet the regulated standards. The system should be available 24/24 or the owner would be fined.
Meanwhile, the VX-1700 equipment should be upgraded to ensure the reporting from fishing boats.
Those tasks are requested to be done by October 2018, according to the MARD.
Illustrative photo
|
As reflected by the commission, Vietnamese fishing boats are still found violating foreign waters, while the legal framework to handle IUU cases is inadequate to that of other countries in the region, etc.
Consequently, the EC is scheduled to review its warning against fisheries export in early next year.
Earlier in October 2017, the EC warned Vietnam with a six-month “yellow card”, because the country’s fishermen continued to conduct IUU fishing, which the EC considered a key obstruction for the ratification of the EVFTA by the EU.
“As experience shows, no country has made the EU’s yellow card removed within twelve months. In the Vietnam case, both sides have involved in discussing and tackling the issue without hindering the two-way trade flow during the period,” said Ha Cong Tuan, deputy head of MARD.
Vietnam’s fishery exports were estimated to reach US$732 million in June, bringing the total value for the first half of 2018 to approximately US$3.94 billion, up 10.5% compared to the same period last year.
