Conference on strengthening leadership, direction and organization of implementation to fight IUU fishing held in Binh Dinh

Mr. Tran Chau - Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh PPC speaking at the conference

After more than 02 years of implementation of preventive measures by the ministries, agencies and localities to combat IUU fishing in accordance with their assigned functions and tasks, some positive results have been initially achieved. However, there are still many shortcomings, limitations and challenges that were specified by the European Commission’s (EC) inspection delegations in May 2018 and November 2019. Speaking at the conference, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong highlighted the consequences of the "yellow card" for the fisheries sector in particular and the reputation of Vietnam in general. That has caused damage to the economy and impact on the socio-political situation of the country. He also requested the localities to command more firmly and drastically in overcoming the shortcomings before the EC Inspection Delegation’s visit to Vietnam for the third time in early June of this year.

The leaders of Binh Dinh, Kien Giang, Ben Tre, Phu Yen and Quang Ngai provinces also presented problems and contributed experience and solutions in the fight against IUU fishing. Binh Dinh has the largest offshore fishing fleet in the Central region with around 3,300 fishing vessels  with the length of at least 15 metres which must be equipped with the tracking device in accordance with the Law on Fisheries. Among them, 69/69 fishing vessels 24 metres and over in length, 1,281/1,492 engaging in tuna fishing and 459/1,739 in other types of fishing have been equipped with the tracking device according to plan. With such a fishing fleet, Binh Dinh is also one of the “hot” spots of IUU fishing. After 2 years of implementing many specific and drastic measures, Binh Dinh is highly appreciated in carrying out a series of measures to remedy the shortcomings as shown by the EC and its effort to fight IUU.

Closing the conference, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong highly appreciated the efforts of the localities, but said that the situation of IUU fishing of Vietnamese fishing vessels still remained. He requested the related agencies and localities to strictly implement the key and urgent measures to make the EC lift the "yellow card" for the fisheries of Vietnam in the coming time. This is the first priority to build and develop sustainable and responsible fisheries.

Author: Nguyễn Xuân Thân